How do we create deep, secure, and lasting relationships—not just in romance, but in parenting, friendships, and even with ourselves? In this episode, we sit down with Tara Boothby, psychologist, author of Love and Love’s Energy, and expert in attachment science. She takes us on a journey into the heart of connection, breaking down the complexities of attachment styles, emotional safety, and the power of co-regulation.

We explore the difference between being loved and lovable, how attachment wounds impact our relationships, and why true security is something we earn over time. Plus, Tara shares her own evolution from skepticism about attachment theory to fully embracing what she calls “love science.”

Tara Boothby, Registered Psychologist, and Author of "Love and Love's Energy: How Attachment Science Proves That Love Nurtures Our Biological Nature, Impacts Our Positive View of Ourselves, of Others, and of God, and Teaches Us All How to Love."

Episode Highlights:

[00:03] - Welcome! Introducing Tara Boothby & the power of attachment science.
[02:23] - How Tara went from doubting attachment theory to embracing “love science”.
[04:26] - The truth about attachment styles: It’s not as simple as you think.
[06:36] - What it really means to be securely attached (hint: it’s a process, not a label).
[09:20] - The hidden fears behind our relationship struggles.
[14:02] - Co-regulation vs. self-regulation: Why we heal faster in relationships.
[19:25] - The importance of repair in relationships & why small moments matter most.
[32:02] - “Earning” security: Can we heal from past attachment wounds?
[40:26] - Knowing when to press pause (or end) on unhealthy relationships.
[50:11] - Loving yourself: The foundation of all secure relationships.

Resources:

• "Love and Love’s Energy" can be found on Amazon worldwide, Kindle, and Barnes and Noble.
• Instagram:
  • Tara Boothby: https://www.instagram.com/tara_boothby/profilecard/?igsh=anpwbGs1eXMwaHVl
  • Sojourn Psychology: https://www.instagram.com/sojournpsychology/profilecard/?igsh=MTZ5azlsYjJjZG9sbg%3D%3D
• Website: https://sojo.ca/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SojournPsychology
• 🔥Get Clear on What You Want in Your Sex Life: Free Download!

For more on this topic visit our website insightsfromthecouch.org If you have questions please email us at info@insightsfromthecouch.org we would love to hear from you!

If today's discussion resonated with you or sparked curiosity, please rate, follow, and share "Insights from the Couch" with others. Your support helps us reach more people and continue providing valuable insights. Here’s to finding our purposes and living a life full of meaning and joy. Stay tuned for more!

Hey friends! We cannot believe we’re saying this—but it's officially been ONE YEAR since we launched Insights from the Couch! Not only are we celebrating our podcast anniversary, but this is also our 50th episode, and we're taking a moment to reflect on the wild, messy, beautiful journey that brought us here. Spoiler alert: we had no idea what we were doing when we started, but we’re proof that big things can happen when you leap before you feel "ready."

In this episode, we open up about the highs, the facepalms, and everything in between—from our tech-challenged beginnings to what we’ve learned about confidence, commitment, distress tolerance, and doing the damn thing scared. Whether you're dreaming of launching your own podcast, writing a book, or finally going after that idea you've been sitting on, we promise this episode will light a fire under you. And yes, we get vulnerable about our own fears and insecurities—because that’s just how we roll.

Episode Highlights:

[0:00] - Celebrating our one-year podcast anniversary and our 50th episode.
[1:28] - The unexpected start and original podcast name that didn’t make the cut.
[3:06] - Why we felt called to fill a gap for midlife women’s voices.
[4:39] - Our “just go for it” launch story—no formal course, all in on action.
[6:07] - Why starting before you’re ready is the key to unlocking clarity.
[7:50] - A powerful discussion on perfectionism and how it holds women back.
[9:35] - The underrated magic of willingness and how it drives everything.
[13:55] - Colette’s wild Cornell summer and learning through discomfort.
[16:00] - What distress tolerance really looks like in everyday life.
[18:44] - Building confidence through action, not waiting to “feel ready”.
[24:43] - Laura’s real talk on growing your work capacity and attention.
[26:58] - Colette’s TEDx talk moment and learning to survive embarrassment.
[31:48] - Riding the cringe: how to show up, even when it’s uncomfortable.
[33:07] - Behind the scenes of our partnership and working styles.
[34:35] - Announcing our new Midlife Master Class group (coming soon!).
[36:45] - The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying and why we’re not waiting anymore.
[38:00] - A call for listener questions—let us know how we can support YOU.

Resources:

• Visit our website: https://www.insightsfromthecouch.org
• Submit your questions or topics for future episodes: info@insightsfromthecouch.org

We’re beyond grateful to each of you who has listened, shared, or supported Insights from the Couch over this past year. You’ve helped us build something truly special, and we can’t wait to grow even more together. If you loved this episode, please take a moment to rate, follow, share, and review—it means the world to us.

See you next week!

What actually works for healthy, vibrant skin—and what’s just hype? In this episode, we sit down with the brilliant and refreshingly honest Dr. Mary Alice Mina, Harvard-trained dermatologist and host of The Skin Real podcast. We dive deep into what midlife skin really needs, what treatments are worth the money, and how hormonal changes can shake up everything we thought we knew about our skincare routines.

Together, we unpack skin minimalism, sunscreen truths (spoiler: it really matters), and the difference between aging gracefully and chasing the next trending procedure. We also get personal—sharing our own frustrations about neck bands, droopy brows, and that “face falling” feeling—and ask Dr. Mina everything from estrogen creams to slugging and Botox.

Episode Highlights:

[0:02] - Welcoming Dr. Mary Alice Mina and diving into hormonal changes and midlife skin shifts.
[3:38] - Our own candid stories about "face falling" and dry, aging skin.
[5:00] - The psychological toll of aging and the importance of internal confidence.
[8:10] - What “skin minimalism” actually means—and why less really can be more.
[11:37] - Estrogen’s role in skin hydration and how perimenopause changes everything.
[13:53] - Sunscreen strategy: how often to reapply, the importance of hats, and Dr. Mina’s favorite brands.
[19:07] - Retinoids 101: how and when to use them for best results.
[20:26] - All about neck bands: what works (and what doesn’t).
[26:09] - Estrogen creams for the face: what Dr. Mina prescribes and how it works.
[28:58] - Why sleep is skin care and how sleep deprivation shows up on your face.
[30:58] - Sunscreen myths, TikTok fads, and Dr. Mina’s biggest dermatology pet peeves.
[33:59] - Genetics vs. skincare habits—what really makes the difference.
[40:16] - Starting or restarting retinoids without overwhelming your skin.
[40:39] - Why annual skin checks are essential and how to talk to your dermatologist.
[43:31] - How to connect with Dr. Mina and find your “skin style” through her quiz.

Resources:

• Dr. Mary Alice Mina’s Podcast: The Skin Real
• Find your skin style quiz: https://www.theskinreal.com/style
• Skincare Compounding: Skin Medicinals (estriol cream)
• Sunscreen favorites: EltaMD, La Roche-Posay, Neutrogena Stick
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drminaskin
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drminaskin
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drminaskin
• Titktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drminaskin
• Medium: https://medium.com/@drminaskin
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drminaskin/
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ph/06k6qtsxj4uvtpulz6w5ghdc8l2gwo/

Make sure to visit the “Resources” page on our website www.insightsfromthecouch.org to download the worksheet and take ways that accompany each episode. This is hugely important as we are now creating a download that is unique to each episode and working hard to create an email list to support our programming offerings moving forward.