The Love Doc Podcast

In this week's episode, host Dr. Sarah Hensley and co-host Raina Butcher discuss the dangers and uselessness of something we're all guilty of - complaining.

Drawing from the teachings and knowledge of one of her most influential mentors, Dr. Suzanne Segerstrom, Dr. Sarah delves into the reasons we complain, the ways the brain can be positively or negatively re-wired through repetitive thought, and the detrimental psychological and even physiological manifestations of complaining, worrying, and negative thought.

Tune in to The Love Doc Podcast every Tuesday morning for candid conversations, expert insights, and the guidance you need to navigate love and relationships in today’s world. For more information on Dr. Hensley’s offerings, explore the links below and connect with her on social media.

Patreon link: patreon.com/TheLoveDocPodcast

Dr. Hensley’s Hybrid Group Coaching: https://courses.thelovedoc.com/group-coaching

Book one on one with Dr. Hensley or one of her certified coaches: Virtual Coaching

Purchase Dr. Hensley’s online courses: https://courses.thelovedoc.com/courses

Tik-Tok: @drsarahhensley

Instagram: @dr.sarahhensley_lovedoc

Facebook: Dr. Sarah Hensley

Youtube: @Dr.SarahHensley

Disclaimer: The content shared on this podcast reflects personal experiences, opinions, and perspectives. The stories told are based on real-life events as remembered and interpreted by the hosts and guests. While we may discuss past relationships, custody matters, or personal dynamics, we do so from our point of view and with the intention of healing, education, and advocacy.

Identities are not disclosed unless already publicly known or permitted, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental unless explicitly stated. The information provided is not intended to defame, malign, or harm any individual or entity.

We do not offer legal advice or psychological diagnosis. Listeners are encouraged to consult with professionals regarding their specific circumstances.

By listening to this podcast, you agree that the hosts are not liable for any losses, damages, or misunderstandings arising from its content.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-love-doc-podcast--6390558/support.

Join us this week as host Dr. Sarah Hensley and co-host Raina Butcher explore what it truly means to cultivate secure energy as we move into 2026. Secure energy is built through clear boundaries, self-trust, and authentic self-expression.

Dr. Hensley discusses how securely attached individuals establish and maintain boundaries without guilt, show up authentically and unapologetically themselves, and lead with respect and compassion while also maintaining their own integrity. The episode also addresses the often-misunderstood topic of looking good—not as a sign of vanity, but as a way of showing self-respect and discipline. 

Secure energy comes from acting in ways that reflect your values, even when it risks disappointment or disconnection. By understanding what secure behavior patterns look like, listeners can learn how to stop performing for acceptance and start showing up as their real selves—grounded, regulated, and relationally sound. This episode offers a practical roadmap for embodying secure energy in daily life, relationships, and self-image as we step into 2026 with clarity and confidence.

Tune in to The Love Doc Podcast every Tuesday morning for candid conversations, expert insights, and the guidance you need to navigate love and relationships in today’s world. For more information on Dr. Hensley’s offerings, explore the links below and connect with her on social media.

COVE promo code: LOVEDOC for 10% off at covesmart.com

Patreon link: patreon.com/TheLoveDocPodcast

Dr. Hensley’s Hybrid Group Coaching: https://courses.thelovedoc.com/group-coaching

Book one on one with Dr. Hensley or one of her certified coaches: Virtual Coaching

Purchase Dr. Hensley’s online courses: https://courses.thelovedoc.com/courses

Tik-Tok: @drsarahhensley

Instagram: @dr.sarahhensley_lovedoc

Facebook: Dr. Sarah Hensley

Youtube: @Dr.SarahHensley

Disclaimer: The content shared on this podcast reflects personal experiences, opinions, and perspectives. The stories told are based on real-life events as remembered and interpreted by the hosts and guests. While we may discuss past relationships, custody matters, or personal dynamics, we do so from our point of view and with the intention of healing, education, and advocacy.

Identities are not disclosed unless already publicly known or permitted, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental unless explicitly stated. The information provided is not intended to defame, malign, or harm any individual or entity.

We do not offer legal advice or psychological diagnosis. Listeners are encouraged to consult with professionals regarding their specific circumstances.

By listening to this podcast, you agree that the hosts are not liable for any losses, damages, or misunderstandings arising from its content.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-love-doc-podcast--6390558/support.

Episode 32 of the Love Doc Podcast focuses specifically on the dismissive avoidant woman. Dr. Hensley begins by clarifying that attachment style itself is not gender specific—men and women develop dismissive avoidance for the same core reasons rooted in early emotional neglect, premature independence, or caregivers who discouraged emotional expression. However, while the wound is the same, the expression can look different in women due to socialization and relational roles. Research consistently shows dismissive avoidants learned early that vulnerability was unsafe or unnecessary, leading them to rely heavily on self-sufficiency and emotional distance in adulthood, particularly inside romantic relationships.

What makes the dismissive avoidant woman distinct is how that avoidance often shows up through caretaking and distraction rather than work or hobbies alone. While many dismissive avoidants become workaholics or hobby-driven, dismissive avoidant women commonly hyper-fixate on their children—becoming deeply intertwined in their kids’ schedules, activities, and identities, often using parenting as a socially acceptable way to avoid marital intimacy. Dr. Hensley also addresses sexuality, noting that dismissive avoidant women are frequently less interested in sex with their partners and will use stress, exhaustion, parenting demands, or busyness to avoid intimacy, because intimacy equals vulnerability. While dismissive avoidance looks similar across genders at its core, this episode highlights the specific nuances that tend to appear in women—and how those patterns quietly impact romantic connection over time.

Tune in to The Love Doc Podcast every Tuesday morning for candid conversations, expert insights, and the guidance you need to navigate love and relationships in today’s world. For more information on Dr. Hensley’s offerings, explore the links below and connect with her on social media.

Patreon link: patreon.com/TheLoveDocPodcast

Dr. Hensley’s Hybrid Group Coaching: https://courses.thelovedoc.com/group-coaching

Book one on one with Dr. Hensley or one of her certified coaches: Virtual Coaching

Purchase Dr. Hensley’s online courses: https://courses.thelovedoc.com/courses

Tik-Tok: @drsarahhensley

Instagram: @dr.sarahhensley_lovedoc

Facebook: Dr. Sarah Hensley

Youtube: @Dr.SarahHensley

Disclaimer: The content shared on this podcast reflects personal experiences, opinions, and perspectives. The stories told are based on real-life events as remembered and interpreted by the hosts and guests. While we may discuss past relationships, custody matters, or personal dynamics, we do so from our point of view and with the intention of healing, education, and advocacy.

Identities are not disclosed unless already publicly known or permitted, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental unless explicitly stated. The information provided is not intended to defame, malign, or harm any individual or entity.

We do not offer legal advice or psychological diagnosis. Listeners are encouraged to consult with professionals regarding their specific circumstances.

By listening to this podcast, you agree that the hosts are not liable for any losses, damages, or misunderstandings arising from its content.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-love-doc-podcast--6390558/support.

In this week’s episode of The Love Doc Podcast, Dr. Hensley addresses the intense public scrutiny and speculation surrounding Erika Kirk following the tragic death of her husband, Charlie Kirk. Rather than engaging in political debate, Dr. Hensley centers the conversation on the human cost of grief lived in the public eye — the emotional toll of watching children struggle to understand the loss of their father, the burden of mourning while being scrutinized, and the cruelty of internet culture that often confuses speculation with truth.

Dr. Hensley also explores the broader cultural issue of conspiracy thinking and outrage-driven media, including accusations and narratives amplified for clicks — notably those promoted by figures such as Candace Owens. This episode is ultimately a call back to our shared humanity, reminding listeners that empathy should not be conditional upon political alignment. At its core, this conversation challenges us to pause, soften, and recognize that behind every headline is a grieving family still learning how to survive an unimaginable loss.

Tune in to The Love Doc Podcast every Tuesday morning for candid conversations, expert insights, and the guidance you need to navigate love and relationships in today’s world. For more information on Dr. Hensley’s offerings, explore the links below and connect with her on social media.

Patreon link: patreon.com/TheLoveDocPodcast

Dr. Hensley’s Hybrid Group Coaching: https://courses.thelovedoc.com/group-coaching

Book one on one with Dr. Hensley or one of her certified coaches: Virtual Coaching

Purchase Dr. Hensley’s online courses: https://courses.thelovedoc.com/courses

Tik-Tok: @drsarahhensley

Instagram: @dr.sarahhensley_lovedoc

Facebook: Dr. Sarah Hensley

Youtube: @Dr.SarahHensley

Disclaimer: The content shared on this podcast reflects personal experiences, opinions, and perspectives. The stories told are based on real-life events as remembered and interpreted by the hosts and guests. While we may discuss past relationships, custody matters, or personal dynamics, we do so from our point of view and with the intention of healing, education, and advocacy.

Identities are not disclosed unless already publicly known or permitted, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental unless explicitly stated. The information provided is not intended to defame, malign, or harm any individual or entity.

We do not offer legal advice or psychological diagnosis. Listeners are encouraged to consult with professionals regarding their specific circumstances.

By listening to this podcast, you agree that the hosts are not liable for any losses, damages, or misunderstandings arising from its content.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-love-doc-podcast--6390558/support.

In this episode of The Love Doc Podcast, Dr. Sarah Hensley takes listeners inside the inner world of the Anxious Preoccupied attachment style—an attachment style marked by a profound longing and need for love, reassurance, and an almost constant subconscious fear of being left. At the core of the anxious preoccupied is the wound of abandonment. Dr. Hensley explains how individuals with this attachment style often grow up receiving intermittent reinforcement of love—care that is inconsistent, unpredictable, and emotionally unreliable. The brain adapts by becoming overly attuned to signs of connection or disconnection, wiring the nervous system for anxiety, rumination, and emotional pain when the closeness to the one they love feels threatened. This early conditioning is why many anxious preoccupied individuals later experience love as addictive, consuming, and essential for emotional survival rather than a place of co-regulation.

Dr. Hensley goes on to unpack how this attachment style often expresses itself through chronic people-pleasing and self-abandonment. In an effort to prevent loss, anxious preoccupied individuals frequently minimize their own needs, over-function in relationships, and prioritize others’ comfort at the expense of their own emotional well-being. Drawing from attachment research, neuroscience, and clinical insight, this episode explores how the nervous system equates separation with danger—and why even subtle relational cues can trigger intense distress. Most importantly, Dr. Hensley offers validation and hope, emphasizing that this pain is not a character flaw, but an adaptive response to early relational wounds—and that with awareness, nervous system healing, and earned security, the anxious preoccupied can learn to experience love without losing themselves in the process.

Tune in to The Love Doc Podcast every Tuesday morning for candid conversations, expert insights, and the guidance you need to navigate love and relationships in today’s world. For more information on Dr. Hensley’s offerings, explore the links below and connect with her on social media.

Patreon link: patreon.com/TheLoveDocPodcast

Dr. Hensley’s Hybrid Group Coaching: https://courses.thelovedoc.com/group-coaching

Book one on one with Dr. Hensley or one of her certified coaches: Virtual Coaching

Purchase Dr. Hensley’s online courses: https://courses.thelovedoc.com/courses

Tik-Tok: @drsarahhensley

Instagram: @dr.sarahhensley_lovedoc

Facebook: Dr. Sarah Hensley

Youtube: @Dr.SarahHensley

Disclaimer: The content shared on this podcast reflects personal experiences, opinions, and perspectives. The stories told are based on real-life events as remembered and interpreted by the hosts and guests. While we may discuss past relationships, custody matters, or personal dynamics, we do so from our point of view and with the intention of healing, education, and advocacy.

Identities are not disclosed unless already publicly known or permitted, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental unless explicitly stated. The information provided is not intended to defame, malign, or harm any individual or entity.

We do not offer legal advice or psychological diagnosis. Listeners are encouraged to consult with professionals regarding their specific circumstances.

By listening to this podcast, you agree that the hosts are not liable for any losses, damages, or misunderstandings arising from its content.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-love-doc-podcast--6390558/support.