This week, Laura shares what to do when you're having one of those days—the kind where nothing feels right, and even getting out of bed feels like a win.
She opens up about her own go-to comfort routine (think cozy sweatpants, takeout, and favorite rewatch shows) and invites listeners to rethink what it means to care for themselves during low moments. Instead of pushing through or pretending to be fine, Laura explores the power of softening into those days—with compassion, nervous system regulation, and tiny rituals that ground us.

She also offers practical tools for building your own self-care toolkit, leaning on your support system, and finding meaning in hard moments through reflection and connection. This episode is both gentle and empowering—a reminder that rest is productive, and low days don’t mean you're failing.

Timestamps
00:00 – 00:10 Welcome and Introduction
00:10 – 00:31 Comfort Routines That Actually Help
00:31 – 01:02 Why You Should Embrace (Not Fight) Low Days
01:02 – 01:48 How the Nervous System Plays a Role
01:48 – 02:05 Building Support Systems You Can Rely On
02:05 – 02:34 Making Meaning From Tough Moments
02:34 – 03:10 Final Words of Encouragement

Stay Connected:
📩 Got a question or story for the show? Submit it here: bit.ly/safespace-questions
📱 Follow Laura on Instagram for daily reflections and behind-the-scenes: @lauracaruso.therapy
🔗 More episodes, resources, and therapy tools: www.lauracaruso.com

This week, Laura breaks down a myth that keeps many of us stuck: the idea that real love should be effortless. She unpacks the cultural narrative that love should just “flow”—and explains why that belief can lead us to walk away too soon, or stay in dynamics that feel wrong for the wrong reasons. Laura explores the difference between healthy effort and emotional struggle, reminding listeners that while relationships do take work, they shouldn’t feel like constant uphill battles.

Through reflections on communication, compromise, and emotional safety, she offers tools for navigating the messiness of love without losing connection or self-worth. This episode is a reminder that ease in relationships doesn’t mean perfection—it means alignment, respect, and a shared willingness to grow.

Timestamps

00:00 – 00:05 Welcome and Introduction

00:05 – 01:02 Debunking the “Effortless Love” Myth

01:02 – 01:45 Effort vs. Struggle: What’s the Difference? 01:45 – 02:18 What Healthy Effort Actually Looks Like

02:18 – 02:51 Finding Ease Without Avoidance

02:51 – 03:30 Final Thoughts on Love That Lasts

Stay Connected: 📩 Got a question or story for the show? Submit it here: bit.ly/safespace-questions

📱 Follow Laura on Instagram for daily reflections and behind-the-scenes: @lauracaruso.therapy

🔗 More episodes, resources, and therapy tools: www.lauracaruso.com

This week, Laura unpacks a hidden relationship pattern that often gets praised but can quietly cause disconnection: hyper independence.
She answers a listener’s question about why it’s so hard to let others in—and why we often default to “doing it all ourselves.” Laura explores how hyper independence can be a protective response rooted in past experiences with unreliable caregivers or chaotic environments. While self-reliance is a strength, Laura explains when it becomes a wall that blocks intimacy, trust, and reciprocity.

She dives into how therapy can help untangle these patterns, the difference between healthy boundaries and emotional avoidance, and what it really means to be in a relationship built on mutual support.
Finally, Laura encourages listeners to reflect with self-compassion and take gentle steps toward safer, more connected relationships.

Timestamps
00:00 – 00:12 Welcome and Introduction
00:12 – 00:48 What Is Hyper Independence?
00:48 – 01:31 Where It Comes From
01:31 – 01:46 Building Awareness in Therapy
01:46 – 02:43 Boundaries vs. Walls
02:43 – 03:17 Relearning Trust and Mutual Support
03:17 – 03:44 Final Thoughts and Reflection

Stay Connected:
📩 Got a question or story for the show? Submit it here: bit.ly/safespace-questions
📱 Follow Laura on Instagram for daily reflections and behind-the-scenes: @lauracaruso.therapy
🔗 More episodes, resources, and therapy tools: www.lauracaruso.com

This week on Safe Space, we’re diving into a topic that many of us secretly wrestle with: doubt in relationships. Is it a red flag—or just a sign we need to look closer?

Laura explores how doubt is a natural, even healthy, part of long-term relationships. She breaks down the difference between internal fears and true red flags, and how our past experiences and inner critic can color the way we interpret uncertainty. Rather than seeing doubt as a signal to walk away, Laura encourages us to use it as an opportunity—to check in with ourselves, deepen connection, and realign with our evolving needs.

This episode is a compassionate invitation to lean into the hard questions, communicate more openly, and reflect on what we really want from love—now and in the future.

Timestamps
00:00 – Welcome & Introduction to Relationship Doubts
00:48 – Red Flags vs. Internal Fears
01:39 – Exploring the Inner Critic and Past Experiences
01:56 – Recognizing When Doubt Arises
02:21 – Doubt as an Opportunity for Growth
03:11 – Honest, Vulnerable Communication
03:38 – Reassessing Needs in Long-Term Partnerships
03:59 – Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Stay Connected:
📩 Got a question or a story you want to share? Submit it here: bit.ly/safespace-questions
📱 Follow Laura on Instagram: @lauracaruso.therapy
🔗 More episodes, tools, and resources: www.lauracaruso.com

This week, Laura responds to a listener’s powerful question: Why do we stay in relationships where we’re not treated well? She explores the psychological and emotional reasons people tolerate poor treatment—ranging from childhood conditioning to confusion about what love should feel like. Laura explains how our early family systems shape expectations, and why unresolved beliefs about love can lead us to normalize chaos, self-blame, or emotional neglect.

She breaks down what healthy love actually looks like, how to recognize red flags in our own behavior and beliefs, and what it takes to reframe our relationship patterns. Finally, Laura encourages listeners to reflect on past dynamics with compassion and commit to building safer, more secure connections.

Timestamps

00:00 – 00:17 Welcome and Podcast Intro

00:17 – 00:32 Why We Tolerate Poor Treatment

00:32 – 01:09 What Healthy Love Really Looks Like

01:09 – 01:41 Passion vs. Emotional Safety

01:41 – 03:22 How Family Systems Shape Us

03:22 – 04:06 The Cycle of Self-Blame

04:06 – 05:27 Subconscious Beliefs About Love

05:27 – 06:11 Learning From the Past

06:11 – 07:15 Reframing and Moving Forward

Stay Connected: 📩 Got a question or story for the show? Submit it here: bit.ly/safespace-questions 📱 Follow Laura on Instagram for daily reflections and behind-the-scenes: @lauracaruso.therapy 🔗 More episodes, resources, and therapy tools: www.lauracaruso.com

In this episode of Safe Space, we explore a vulnerable listener question: How do I let someone in again after having my heart broken?

Through the lens of emotional healing and self-trust, we unpack why heartbreak can leave us feeling guarded—and why that’s completely valid. From understanding the nervous system’s response to emotional pain, to the protective walls we unconsciously build, this conversation guides listeners through the often-overlooked process of softening back into intimacy after betrayal or loss.

We discuss why healing isn't about rushing into something new, but about creating safety within ourselves first. You'll learn how to spot self-protective patterns, rebuild inner trust, and take aligned emotional risks—all without abandoning yourself again.

Whether you’re navigating a breakup, hesitant to open your heart, or rebuilding your relationship with yourself, this episode offers both compassion and clarity on the path forward.

Timestamps:

00:00 – 00:18 Welcome to Safe Space

00:18 – 01:06 When Your Heart Feels Closed After Hurt

01:06 – 02:08 How We Protect Ourselves from Being Hurt Again

02:08 – 04:02 What It Really Means to Rebuild Trust in Yourself

04:02 – 05:00 Why Risk Is Necessary for Real Connection

05:00 – End – Final Reflections and an Invitation to Soften

Stay Connected: Got a question or story for the show? Submit it here: bit.ly/safespace-questions

Follow Laura on Instagram for daily reflections and behind-the-scenes: @lauracaruso.therapy

More episodes, resources, and therapy tools: www.lauracaruso.com

In this episode of Safe Space, we dive into a listener’s vulnerable question: Why was I okay with being treated poorly by my ex?
Through the lens of relational psychology and childhood conditioning, we explore why so many of us tolerate mistreatment in relationships—often without realizing it. From family dynamics and subconscious beliefs to misconceptions about love and passion, we uncover the hidden roots of these patterns.

Listeners will gain insight into how early family systems shape our expectations of love, why emotional neglect can be mistaken for passion, and how self-blame keeps us stuck. Most importantly, we discuss what it actually means to do "the work"—building self-awareness, reframing beliefs, and moving toward relationships rooted in respect and emotional safety.

Whether you're reflecting on a painful breakup or working to break toxic patterns, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and practical steps forward.

00:00 – 00:17 Welcome to Safe Space
00:17 – 00:32 Why Do We Tolerate Poor Treatment?
00:32 – 01:09 Understanding What Healthy Love Actually Looks Like
01:09 – 01:41 The Illusion of Love, Passion, and Chaos
01:41 – 03:22 How Family Systems Shape Relationship Expectations
03:22 – 04:06 The Trap of Self-Blame and Shame
04:06 – 05:27 Subconscious Beliefs That Keep Us Stuck
05:27 – 06:11 What Past Relationships Can Teach Us
06:11 – End Reframing, Healing, and Moving Forward

• You’ve ever excused poor behavior in the name of love

• You grew up in a family where emotional connection was inconsistent

• You're doing the inner work to create healthier relationships

• You're ready to stop repeating the same painful patterns

Stay Connected:
📩 Got a question or a story you'd like explored on the podcast? Submit it here: bit.ly/safespace-questions
📱 Follow Laura on Instagram for daily insights and behind-the-scenes content: @lauracaruso.therapy
🔗 More episodes, free resources, and therapy tools: www.lauracaruso.com

TimestampsThis episode is for you if...

In this episode of Safe Space, we unpack how self-esteem and relationship status often intertwine, especially for those with anxious or insecure attachment styles. Through the lens of attachment theory, we explore how early childhood experiences shape our relational patterns and why losing a relationship can feel like losing a part of ourselves.

Listeners will learn how anxious and insecure attachment styles shape self-esteem in relationships, why childhood experiences influence adult relational patterns, and the emotional impact of losing a relationship on identity and self-worth. We also discuss practical ways to maintain individuality and self-awareness within partnerships, and how to recognize and shift unhelpful attachment patterns for healthier connections.

Whether you're navigating a breakup, reflecting on your attachment style, or simply aiming to foster healthier relationships, this episode offers tools for understanding yourself more deeply and building resilience beyond your relationship status.

Timestamps:

00:00 – 00:13 Introduction: How Relationships Shape Self-Esteem

00:13 – 00:47 Understanding Anxious & Insecure Attachment Styles

00:47 – 01:58 How Childhood Experiences Influence Adult Attachment

01:58 – 02:55 The Impact of Relationships on Our Sense of Self

02:55 – 03:45 Why Maintaining Individuality Matters

03:45 – 05:00 A Personal Story: Navigating Attachment in Real Life

05:00 – 05:34 Recognizing and Shifting Unhealthy Patterns

05:34 – 06:10 Conclusion: Building Self-Awareness & Resilience

This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to untangle their self-worth from their relationship status and cultivate secure, self-affirming connections.

Stay Connected: Have a question or a topic you'd love explored? Submit it for a future episode. Follow us on Instagram for relationship insights and behind-the-scenes content: @lauracaruso.therapy