Unhealed trauma has a quiet way of shaping how we love. The same patterns that once helped me survive (and probably helped you too) can turn into walls that keep real closeness out.

In this episode, I’m unpacking how those old wounds can show up in your relationships and why real healing starts from within. Have you ever noticed yourself pulling away when things get too real? Or finding that the same patterns keep repeating, even with different people? We’re diving into what’s underneath that and how to finally start shifting it.

I’ll share insights from trauma experts like Gabor Maté and Bessel van der Kolk, along with what I’ve seen in my own decades of work helping women rebuild after heartbreak. We’ll talk about the four trauma responses (fight, flight, freeze, and fawn) and how they can quietly influence the way you communicate, connect, and protect yourself in love.

I’ll also walk you through ways to begin healing - recognizing your triggers, using tools like EMDR or internal family systems, and choosing partners who feel emotionally safe and accountable. Because love after trauma isn’t about finding someone who never triggers you. It’s about being with someone who’s willing to grow and heal right alongside you.

My hope is that this episode helps you see your patterns with a little more compassion and curiosity. Ask yourself: what have my past experiences taught me about love, and what am I ready to do differently now?

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 How Unhealed Trauma Affects Relationships

00:55 The Right One Myth and Inner Healing

02:42 Defining Trauma with Gabor Maté and Bessel van der Kolk

06:39 The Four Trauma Responses: Fight, Flight, Freeze, Fawn

11:04 How Trauma Shapes Attachment and Emotional Safety

14:05 Trust and Vulnerability After Trauma

17:29 When Survival Strategies Block Connection

20:22 Healing Tools: EMDR, IFS, Somatic Work

24:50 Healthy Communication and Repair Practices

27:34 Love After Trauma: Healing and Growing Together

Connect with Dr. Stacey Rose:

Visit Dr. Stacey’s website

Follow Dr. Stacey on Instagram

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Dating after divorce raises big questions about trust, timing, and how to show up as your most grounded self.

In this episode, I’m answering some of the most common and emotionally layered questions I hear from women navigating the dating world after divorce. I share honest, compassionate answers about rebuilding trust, introducing a new partner to your children, and deciding how much to share about your past relationships early on. I’ll walk you through what it means to truly trust yourself, how to listen to your intuition, and why slow, intentional dating matters. If you’re asking these questions too, you’re not alone. And I hope this conversation brings you the clarity, confidence, and encouragement you need for your next steps forward.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Navigating the Dating World After Divorce

01:15 How to Rebuild Trust After Betrayal

03:08 Learning to Trust Yourself First

05:26 When to Introduce a New Partner to Your Kids

08:08 Lessons from Introducing Someone Too Soon

09:54 Should You Talk About Your Ex on a First Date?

14:07 Finding the Lesson in Every Dating Experience

15:45 Journal Prompt: Who Do You Want to Be on a Date?

16:41 You Are Divorced, Not Done

Connect with Dr. Stacey Rose:

Visit Dr. Stacey Rose’s Website

Follow Dr. Stacey Rose on Instagram

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Have you ever wondered what might happen if you pressed pause on dating after divorce? I know it can feel counterintuitive when everyone else is swiping, but I’ve seen firsthand how powerful the benefits of stepping back can be.

In this episode, I share why taking a conscious break from dating gives you the space to heal, reset, and rediscover yourself. What new passions might you uncover if you stopped scrolling and tried something different? How might your confidence grow if you gave yourself the time to reflect on what you truly want? During one of my own dating detox periods, I took a simple vocal lesson that turned into years of joy performing in a band, something I never would have discovered if I had stayed caught up in the dating cycle.

A dating detox is more than just a pause. It’s an opportunity to find clarity, rebuild confidence, and strengthen the most important relationship you’ll ever have - the one with yourself!

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Dating Detox

01:36 Why Take a Dating Detox

06:03 Benefits of a Dating Detox

07:09 Discovering New Passions

10:01 Avoiding Past Relationship Mistakes

19:01 Challenges of Loneliness

25:12 The Strength in Pausing

Connect with Dr. Stacey Rose:

Dr. Stacey Rose

Instagram

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Dating apps can feel like a maze. Exciting at first, but quickly overwhelming if you’re not clear on what you want. Before you start swiping, have you thought about why you’re there in the first place? Are you curious, looking for connection, or just passing time? The answer matters.

In this episode, I share five smart swiping pointers to help you approach dating apps with clarity and intention. We’ll talk about emotional readiness, how to choose the right app for you, creating a profile that actually reflects who you are, moving from first conversations to first dates, and how to recognize both red and green lights along the way.

The goal isn’t just finding someone but also learning about yourself in the process. How do you feel as you swipe? What signals make you want to lean in, or back away? These are the moments that shape not only your dating journey, but your confidence in knowing what’s right for you.

Dating after divorce can be a chance to rewrite the story. And with the right mindset, even swiping left can bring you closer to the connection you’re truly seeking.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Dating Apps After Divorce: Where to Begin

02:33 Emotional Preparation for Smart Swiping

05:36 How to Choose the Best Dating App for You

09:12 Crafting an Authentic Dating Profile That Works

12:59 Conversations and First Dates: What Really Matters

15:37 Dating Red Flags and Green Lights to Watch For

18:46 Journal Prompts for Post-Divorce Dating Clarity

Connect with Dr. Stacey Rose:

Dr. Stacey Rose

Instagram

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Self-care is the most powerful tool I have found for rebuilding confidence and creating real connections in the dating world after divorce. I want to take you beyond the usual ideas of self-care and explore how to truly care for your whole self. How often do you check in with your values before saying yes to something? Have you noticed how old wounds from past relationships can still influence the way you show up today?

In this episode, I talk about healing unresolved trauma, tending to the parts of yourself that still feel unseen, and making choices that keep you aligned with who you are at your core. I walk you through the key pillars of self-care: spiritual, social, mental, physical, emotional, and financial, and share ways each one can help you feel more confident and grounded in dating. You’ll hear tools you can use to set an intention before a date, reflect afterward with honesty, and stay rooted in your truth no matter what.

More than anything, I want you to remember that the relationship you have with yourself sets the tone for every other connection in your life.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 The Importance of Self-Care After Divorce

04:07 How Unresolved Trauma Affects Dating and Relationships

05:13 Honoring Your Soul and Living Authentically

07:33 The Pillars of Spiritual, Social, Mental, Physical, and Emotional Self-Care

15:09 Financial Self-Care Essentials

15:51 Lessons for Success in Post-Divorce Dating

17:16 Pre-Date and Post-Date Rituals for Confidence and Clarity

20:38 Why You Must Love Yourself First

21:01 Dating Yourself Before Dating Others

Connect with Dr. Stacey Rose:

Dr. Stacey Rose

Instagram

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Dating after divorce can bring up all kinds of emotions… hope, excitement, anxiety, even that rush to find someone new. But have you stopped to ask yourself why you really want to date?

In this episode, I’m digging into that question and walking you through the three big drivers I see come up most often after a divorce: lust, love, and loneliness. How do you know if it's a real connection or just chemistry? Are you drawn to someone because you’re genuinely ready or because being alone feels too hard right now? I’ll share tools like the slow burn test and the boring-but-beautiful checklist to help you get clear on what’s real. I’ll also talk about trauma bonds, emotional hunger, and what it actually looks like to build a relationship that feels safe, steady, and right for you. This is an invitation to get honest with yourself and to make choices that come from a place of wholeness, not urgency.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Welcome to Divorced Women Dating

01:02 Why Do You Want to Date After Divorce?

02:07 Lust vs. Love: Understanding the Chemistry Confuser

03:12 The Slow Burn Test for Lust

05:32 What Real Love Looks Like

08:54 How to Spot a Trauma Bond

12:12 The Boring but Beautiful Checklist for Healthy Love

14:21 Loneliness and Emotional Hunger

19:51 Journal Prompt: What Are You Truly Craving?

22:02 Lust Is a Spark, Love Is a Flame, Loneliness Is the Wind

Connect with Dr. Stacey Rose:

Website: www.staceyrose.com

Instagram: @theroserelationship

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

When most women start dating after divorce, they focus on profiles, pictures, and what to say. But I want to ask you something deeper… What kind of energy are you bringing with you?

In this episode, I’m talking about something that’s often overlooked in dating: your energy. The vibe you carry into every interaction says more than the words you choose. Are you grounded and curious, or are old wounds still doing the talking? After more than 30 years as a therapist, and as someone who’s lived through post-divorce dating myself, I’ve seen how powerful it is to understand the energy you’re putting out there. I’ll walk you through four common dating energy types and help you check in with what’s really going on beneath the surface.

So ask yourself: What kind of energy are you leading with today, and is it helping you move toward the connection you want?

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 The Secret Ingredient Most Women Overlook in Dating

00:43 Why Dating Energy Matters More Than Your Profile

05:07 The Four Types of Dating Energy Explained

06:56 What Queen Energy Looks Like in Real Life

08:41 How Awareness of Your Energy Can Shift Your Dating Experience

09:04 Three Mindset Shifts for Empowered Dating

11:03 Why Regulating Your Nervous System Affects Dating Outcomes

12:15 Journal Prompt: What Energy Are You Bringing Into Dating?

13:08 The Real Goal of Dating After Divorce

Connect with Dr. Stacey Rose:

Website: www.staceyrose.com

Instagram: @theroserelationship

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Post-divorce dating can stir up a lot: grief, confusion, hope, hesitation… and it usually starts long before you sit across from someone at dinner.

In this episode, I talk through the real challenges that come with dating after a marriage ends. Not just the ones like scheduling around kids or figuring out which dating app actually feels right, but the deeper stuff too. What do you do with the pain that lingers, even when you know leaving was the right choice? How do you open yourself up to someone new when trust still feels shaky? And maybe most important, do you really know who you are now, outside of who you used to be?

I also share thoughts on timing, especially when it comes to your children and your family. When is it too soon to introduce someone new? What kind of support do you need before you're ready to let someone in? Society has a lot to say about what women should be doing after divorce, but those voices usually miss the point.

This episode is about tuning into yourself, getting clear on what feels good, and building something that actually fits the life you're creating. You’re not behind. You’re not broken. You’re just in a new chapter that deserves thought and care. Let's talk about how to move through it honestly, patiently, and on your terms.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Navigating the Pain of Divorce

07:51 Understanding Trust and Vulnerability in Dating

13:10 Rediscovering Identity Post-Divorce

19:05 Family Dynamics and Dating Challenges

22:48 Societal Pressures and Personal Choices

Connect with Dr. Stacey Rose:

Website: www.staceyrose.com

Instagram: @theroserelationship

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm