n this Therapist Insights episode, Jennifer Lehr, LMFT, unpacks the emotional complexity of the anxious attachment style and offers therapeutic tools to support healing, regulation, and deeper connection.
Jennifer explores how early emotional wounds manifest in anxious relational behaviors — from fear of abandonment to heightened sensitivity and emotional reactivity. She shares strategies for self-regulation, boundary setting, and clear communication, while highlighting the importance of compassion, intuition, and differentiation in building secure relationships.
💗 This episode is a supportive resource for anyone who struggles with anxious attachment and is working to build healthier, more secure love.
💬 Topics We Explore:
What anxious attachment looks like in relationships
How to self-regulate when triggered (especially with avoidant partners)
Recognizing and healing personal emotional wounds
Using timing and calm communication to express needs
Compassion and accountability in relational dynamics
Differentiation: staying connected while being yourself
The impact of negative self-talk on love and self-worth
How intuition helps identify red flags
Building secure, emotionally safe relationships
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Relationship Dynamics
00:53 Understanding Partner Needs and Differences
01:50 Anxiety and Avoidance03:46Curiosity and Compassion in Relationships
04:53 Wounds
06:03 The Anxious Avoidant Struggle
07:53 The Negative Cycle
09:44 The Importance of Self-Regulation
12:04 Communication Examples
13:20 Communication and Asking for Needs
15:08 Impact of Parents and Survival Strategies
17:22 Secure Relationships
17:55 Recognizing Red Flags in Relationships
18:35 Friendship, Compassion, Curiosity, Attunement
18:58 Differentiation
21:09 Developing Healthy Communication Skills
23:45 Listening to Our Bodies
25:11 Self Talk
26:28 Parent's Communication
27:16 Inner Voice
28:07 Listening to Intuition and Red Flags
29:28 Closing
🎯 Keywords:
anxious attachment healing, therapist advice for anxious partners, self-regulation in relationships, communication in insecure attachment, emotional triggers and self-worth, building secure relationships, understanding attachment trauma
📲 Hashtags:
#TherapistInsights #AnxiousAttachment #AttachmentHealing #EmotionalTriggers #SecureRelationships #SelfRegulation #RelationshipCommunication #TheYearningHeartPodcast
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