Hey friend — if you’ve been trying to figure everything out on your own, this is your permission slip to reach out. Being seen, heard, and practicing with others can change how you feel about yourself in the simplest and deepest ways.

It’s not about becoming dependent; it’s about growing more honest and brave together. Try saying one tiny thing out loud to someone safe this week and notice what happens.

If today's episode resonated with you, I'd love to stay connected.

To register for my Free Webinar “How to Know What You Need When Everyone Needs Something From You

Why capable, driven women lose touch with their own needs—and how to reconnect with yourself, trust yourself, and make more intentional choices

Choose either

Tuesday September 8th 10:00 AM EST

Register for 9/8 Here

Or

Thursday Sep 24, 2026 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Register for 9/24 Here

Ready to join?

Join my Group Coaching Membership for Women called Resilient and Restored:

https://drlauriebruce.com/resilientandrestored

🌿 Take the "How Connected Are You?" Quiz Discover how connected you are to yourself and receive personalized insights to help you begin reconnecting with greater awareness and intention. Take the quiz: https://drlauriebruce.com/quiz

🤍 Join My Free Community Continue the conversation inside our free Skool community, where you'll find encouragement, practical resources, and a supportive group of women who are learning to live with greater presence, self-trust, and intention. Join here: https://www.skool.com/resilient-and-restored-8441/about

About the Podcast

From Both Sides of the Couch is hosted by Dr. Laurie Bruce, a licensed clinical psychologist and mindfulness coach. Each week, Dr. Laurie blends psychological insight, mindfulness, and real-life conversations to help women cultivate greater self-awareness, strengthen self-trust, and create lives that feel more grounded, intentional, and fulfilling.

Hey friend — ever know exactly what would help but still can’t seem to do it? You’re not lazy, and this episode gently explains why knowledge alone isn’t enough and how that gap actually shows up in your life.

Think tiny, repeatable practices: pausing before you say yes, stretching while you dry your hair, or taking two quiet minutes. These small moments add up and help your brain learn a new way of being without overhauling your whole life.

No pressure, just curiosity and compassion — try one tiny thing today and notice what happens.

To register for my Free Webinar: How to Know What You Need When Everyone Needs Something From You. Why capable, driven women lose touch with their own needs—and how to reconnect with yourself, trust yourself, and make more intentional choices

Choose either

Tuesday September 8th 10:00 AM EST

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Sym24VhESKeo2oEx6_8ilQ

Thursday Sep 24, 2026 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/emCI1FsrSoGbSfyYFTMWow

Ready to join?

Join my Group Coaching Membership for Women: Resilient and Restored

https://drlauriebruce.com/resilientandrestored

🌿 Take the "How Connected Are You?" Quiz Discover how connected you are to yourself and receive personalized insights to help you begin reconnecting with greater awareness and intention. Take the quiz: https://drlauriebruce.com/quiz

🤍 Join My Free Community Continue the conversation inside our free Skool community, where you'll find encouragement, practical resources, and a supportive group of women who are learning to live with greater presence, self-trust, and intention. Join here: https://www.skool.com/resilient-and-restored-8441/about

Ever said yes and immediately regretted it? This episode digs into why 'yes' can feel like part of who we are—people-pleasing, the fawn response, fear of disappointing—and offers one tiny, powerful practice: pause and say, “Let me think about it.”

Start small, be gentle with yourself, and remember boundaries are a practice, not proof you’re a bad person. Try the pause and see what you actually want.

If something in today’s episode resonated with you, I’d love to stay connected.

Take the How Connected Are You? Quiz

How connected are you to yourself right now?

This short quiz can help you identify where you may have lost touch with your thoughts, feelings, needs, values, and inner voice, and give you a place to begin reconnecting with yourself.

👉 Take the Quiz: https://drlauriebruce.com/quiz

Join the Free Resilient & Restored Community

If you’re ready to slow down, reconnect with yourself, and learn to know and trust yourself again, come join me inside my free Resilient & Restored community.

👉 Join the Community: https://www.skool.com/resilient-and-restored-8441/about

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555258666969

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlauriebruce/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.lauriebruce

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who might benefit from the conversation.

I’m glad you’re here.

Why is it so hard to rest, even when you know you’re exhausted?

For many high-achieving women, slowing down can feel surprisingly uncomfortable. You may finally have a moment to yourself, only to find your mind racing, your body feeling restless, or a nagging sense that you should be doing something more productive.

In this episode of From Both Sides of the Couch, we’re taking a closer look at the psychology and nervous system science behind why rest can feel so difficult.

If you’ve spent years being responsible, productive, dependable, and attuned to everyone else’s needs, your nervous system may have learned to associate staying busy with safety, control, or even self-worth. So when you finally stop, your body and mind don’t necessarily experience it as relaxation.

We’ll explore:

• Why high-achieving women often struggle to slow down, even when they desperately need rest • What your nervous system has to do with your difficulty relaxing • Why stillness can sometimes bring up anxiety, guilt, or uncomfortable emotions • The difference between genuine restoration and simply distracting yourself from discomfort • How productivity can become connected to your sense of worth • Why “just relax” is often much easier said than done • How to begin listening to your body and nervous system instead of overriding their signals • What it can look like to practice rest without turning it into another thing you have to get right

Rest isn't simply about doing less. It’s about developing the capacity to notice what your mind, body, emotions, and nervous system are communicating and responding with greater awareness.

If you've ever thought, “I know I need to rest, but I don't know how to actually stop,” this episode is for you.

Take a pause, settle in, and consider what might happen if rest became less about earning a break and more about learning to listen to yourself.

I invite you to take one idea from today’s episode, put it into practice, and see what happens.

If today's episode resonated with you, I'd love to stay connected.

🌿 Take the "How Connected Are You?" Quiz Discover how connected you are to yourself and receive personalized insights to help you begin reconnecting with greater awareness and intention. Take the quiz: https://drlauriebruce.com/quiz

🤍 Join My Free Community Continue the conversation inside our free Skool community, where you'll find encouragement, practical resources, and a supportive group of women who are learning to live with greater presence, self-trust, and intention. Join here: https://www.skool.com/resilient-and-restored-8441/about

About the Podcast

From Both Sides of the Couch is hosted by Dr. Laurie Bruce, a licensed clinical psychologist and mindfulness coach. Each week, Dr. Laurie blends psychological insight, mindfulness, and real-life conversations to help women cultivate greater self-awareness, strengthen self-trust, and create lives that feel more grounded, intentional, and fulfilling.

About the Podcast

From Both Sides of the Couch is hosted by Dr. Laurie Bruce, a licensed clinical psychologist and mindfulness coach. Each week, Dr. Laurie blends psychological insight, mindfulness, and real-life conversations to help women cultivate greater self-awareness, strengthen self-trust, and create lives that feel more grounded, intentional, and fulfilling.

Embrace the Messy Start:

Today, I’m sharing a very real moment: I’ve been building a membership called Resilient and Restored and I keep getting stuck on needing it to be perfect before I start. So I’m choosing the messy start instead.

If you’ve ever felt stuck waiting for clarity or fearing mistakes, you’re not alone — progress comes from practice, not perfection. I’m inviting you to take small, imperfect steps with me and learn as we go.

If that resonates, come join the free community on SKOOL — it’s a tiny, brave step we can take together. Thanks for being here.

If today's episode resonated with you, I'd love to stay connected.

🌿 Take the "How Connected Are You?" Quiz Discover how connected you are to yourself and receive personalized insights to help you begin reconnecting with greater awareness and intention. Take the quiz: https://drlauriebruce.com/quiz

🤍 Join My Free Community Continue the conversation inside our free Skool community, where you'll find encouragement, practical resources, and a supportive group of women who are learning to live with greater presence, self-trust, and intention. Join here: https://www.skool.com/resilient-and-restored-8441/about

✨ Ready to go deeper? If you're looking for ongoing support and guided practices to help you reconnect with yourself and create a more intentional life, I'd love to welcome you into Resilient & Restored, my membership for women who are ready to move beyond simply getting through their days and begin living with greater purpose and peace. Learn more: https://drlauriebruce.com/resilientandrestored

Have you ever looked at the life you built and wondered why you still do not feel like yourself?

In this solo episode of From Both Sides Of The Couch, I talk about the quiet, gradual ways women can lose connection with themselves while caring for everyone else, moving through responsibilities, and living on autopilot. This is not about needing to blow up your life or start over. It is about noticing the small ways you may have stopped checking in with yourself.

I also talk about why later rarely comes, how autopilot can make life feel like something you are managing instead of something you are living, and why reconnecting with yourself can begin with one simple practice: noticing without judgment.

Listen to this week's episode of From Both Sides Of The Couch: Why You Don’t Feel Like Yourself Anymore (And How to Find Your Way Back)

If today's episode resonated with you, I'd love to stay connected.

🌿 Take the "How Connected Are You?" Quiz Discover how connected you are to yourself and receive personalized insights to help you begin reconnecting with greater awareness and intention. Take the quiz: https://drlauriebruce.com/quiz

🤍 Join My Free Community Continue the conversation inside our free Skool community, where you'll find encouragement, practical resources, and a supportive group of women who are learning to live with greater presence, self-trust, and intention. Join here: https://www.skool.com/resilient-and-restored-8441/about

✨ Ready to go deeper? If you're looking for ongoing support and guided practices to help you reconnect with yourself and create a more intentional life, I'd love to welcome you into Resilient & Restored, my membership for women who are ready to move beyond simply getting through their days and begin living with greater purpose and peace. Learn more: https://drlauriebruce.com/resilientandrestored

Enjoy this episode? Follow us on your favorite podcast platforms and leave a 5-star review!

Follow her socials:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555258666969

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlauriebruce/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-bruce-psy-d-0201277/

Visit her website.

Website: https://www.drlauriebruce.com/

#MidlifeWomen #SelfConnection #MentalHealth

Hey friends! What if regret is not a sign that you are failing, but a signal pointing you back to what matters?

In today’s solo episode of From Both Sides Of The Couch, I am talking about the emotion of regret, the pressure of the no regret lifestyle, and why painful emotions often carry important information. I also share a personal update about the podcast returning to an audio-only format and what this decision has taught me about values, alignment, and making room for what matters most.

Join me as we look at how regret can remind us of our values, why we need to sit with difficult emotions before we try to change them, and how small shoulds can slowly fill our lives until there is very little room left for ourselves.

If you have been feeling pulled in too many directions, saying yes because you should, or wondering whether your life still fits who you are becoming, this conversation is for you. Join me as we explore how to look back without living there and create space for what matters in What Regret Can Teach You.

If today's episode resonated with you, I'd love to stay connected.

🌿 Take the "How Connected Are You?" Quiz Discover how connected you are to yourself and receive personalized insights to help you begin reconnecting with greater awareness and intention. Take the quiz: https://drlauriebruce.com/quiz

🤍 Join My Free Community Continue the conversation inside our free Skool community, where you'll find encouragement, practical resources, and a supportive group of women who are learning to live with greater presence, self-trust, and intention. Join here: https://www.skool.com/resilient-and-restored-8441/about

✨ Ready to go deeper? If you're looking for ongoing support and guided practices to help you reconnect with yourself and create a more intentional life, I'd love to welcome you into Resilient & Restored, my membership for women who are ready to move beyond simply getting through their days and begin living with greater purpose and peace. Learn more: https://drlauriebruce.com/resilientandrestored

Follow her socials:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555258666969

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlauriebruce/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-bruce-psy-d-0201277/

Visit her website.

Website: https://www.drlauriebruce.com/

#Regret #SelfCompassion #PersonalGrowth

Hey friends! Why does intimacy feel so hard when your nervous system does not feel safe?

In today’s episode of From Both Sides Of The Couch, I am joined by Vanessa Cushing, Licensed Professional Counselor and certified sex therapist, to talk about nervous system dysregulation, desire discrepancy, trauma, communication, and what sex therapy actually looks like in real clinical practice.

Join us as we unpack why desire can shut down when the body is in survival mode, how blame keeps couples stuck, why communication needs more than just talking, and when therapists should consider referring clients to a trained sex therapist.

This conversation is for therapists working with intimacy concerns and for anyone who wants a more compassionate, informed way to understand desire, trauma, and connection. We also talk about Vanessa’s work with Sex Therapy Pro and why accessible, shame-free education around sexual health matters.

Vanessa Cushing is a Licensed Professional Counselor and the owner and founder of Cushing Counseling and Sex Therapy Pro, where she works to help clients eliminate distress, build healthier coping skills, and gain insight into unhealthy patterns. She holds a master's degree from Johns Hopkins University in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, dual bachelor's degrees from the University of Virginia, and a Certificate in Sex Therapy from the University of Michigan. Vanessa specializes in sex therapy and integrative couples work, addressing concerns ranging from desire discrepancy to reclaiming sexuality after trauma, and is an LGBTQ+ affirming, inclusive provider.

To explore Vanessa's AI-powered sex therapy platform with personalized treatment plans and exercises, visit sextherapypro.ai.

Looking for sex or couples counseling? Cushing Counseling: https://www.cushingcounseling.com/

Connect with Vanessa Cushing:

Website: https://www.cushingcounseling.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cushingcounseling/

Li: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-cushing-477051156/

If today's episode resonated with you, I'd love to stay connected.

🌿 Take the "How Connected Are You?" Quiz Discover how connected you are to yourself and receive personalized insights to help you begin reconnecting with greater awareness and intention. Take the quiz: https://drlauriebruce.com/quiz

🤍 Join My Free Community Continue the conversation inside our free Skool community, where you'll find encouragement, practical resources, and a supportive group of women who are learning to live with greater presence, self-trust, and intention. Join here: https://www.skool.com/resilient-and-restored-8441/about

✨ Ready to go deeper? If you're looking for ongoing support and guided practices to help you reconnect with yourself and create a more intentional life, I'd love to welcome you into Resilient & Restored, my membership for women who are ready to move beyond simply getting through their days and begin living with greater purpose and peace. Learn more: https://drlauriebruce.com/resilientandrestored

Follow her socials:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555258666969

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlauriebruce/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-bruce-psy-d-0201277/

Visit her website.

Website: https://www.drlauriebruce.com/

#SexTherapy #RelationshipHealth #IntimacyHealing #women in mid-life