The Love Doc Podcast cover art

The Love Doc Podcast

The Love Doc Podcast

By: Dr. Sarah Hensley
Listen for free

About this listen

 Hosted by Dr. Sarah Hensley, Specialized Social Psychologist, Attachment Theory Expert, and Founder & CEO of The Love Doc Relationship Coaching Services, with Co-host Raina Butcher, Owner/CEO of Joyful Consulting Welcome to "The Love Doc Podcast" where Host Dr. Sarah Hensley and her co-host Raina Butcher dive deep into the intricacies of love, attraction, attachment, relationships, and self-awareness. Dr. Hensley brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to help listeners navigate the complexities of modern romance. In each episode, Dr. Hensley tackles burning questions about love, relationships, and the mind’s complexities, drawing from her psychological research, real-life experiences, and her own individual expertise, to provide insightful perspectives and practical advice.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-love-doc-podcast--6390558/support.Copyright Dr. Sarah Hensley Personal Development Personal Success Relationships Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Episode 30, Season II: The Pain of the Anxious Preoccupied

    Episode 30, Season II: The Pain of the Anxious Preoccupied
    Dec 23 2025
    Episode 30: The Pain of the Anxious Preoccupied

    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.

    Patreons 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.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Episode 29, Season II: "Navigating Autism with Dr. Theresa Lyons"

    Episode 29, Season II: "Navigating Autism with Dr. Theresa Lyons"
    Dec 16 2025
    Episode 29, Season II: "Navigating Autism with Dr. Theresa Lyons"

    Dr. Sarah Hensley and Raina Butcher sit down with Dr. Theresa Lyons, Yale-trained scientist, medical strategist, and autism parent, to explore what truly happens after an autism diagnosis. This conversation speaks directly to the shock, grief, confusion, and information overload so many parents experience.

    Dr. Lyons is the creator of the Navigating Autism (Navigating AWEtism) platform and YouTube channel, built to help families move beyond “wait and see” and into empowered, research-informed decision-making. Together, they unpack how autism is currently diagnosed, why the process can feel overwhelming and fragmented, and how parents can begin to make sense of the science without losing themselves in it. What makes this episode especially powerful is its balance of research and humanity. Dr. Lyons shares how diving deeply into the scientific literature helped her shift from fear to strategy—exploring areas such as the gut-immune-brain connection, sensory regulation, sleep, and emerging interventions being studied in the autism space.

    At the center of the conversation is the nervous system of the parent and the family system as a whole, with Dr. Hensley and Dr. Lyons openly acknowledging the emotional toll autism can take on marriages, identity, and mental health, while offering reassurance that parents deserve support, clarity, and hope—not just for their child, but for themselves. This episode is a grounded, compassionate guide for families navigating autism with both science and soul.

    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.

    Patreons 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.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 1 min
  • Episode 28, Season II: “Running on Empty: Understanding Emotional Burnout, Allostatic Load & The High Cost of Carrying Too Much”

    Episode 28, Season II: “Running on Empty: Understanding Emotional Burnout, Allostatic Load & The High Cost of Carrying Too Much”
    Dec 9 2025
    Hosted by Dr. Sarah Hensley, Specialized Social Psychologist, Attachment Theory Expert, and Founder & CEO of The Love Doc Relationship Coaching Services with Co-host Raina Butcher, Owner/CEO of Joyful Consulting, LLC. Welcome to "The Love Doc Podcast" Season II, where Host Dr. Sarah Hensley and her co-host Raina Butcher dive deep into the intricacies of love, attraction, attachment, relationships, and self-awareness. Dr. Hensley brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to help listeners navigate the complexities of modern romance. In each episode, Dr. Hensley tackles burning questions about love, relationships, and the mind’s complexities, drawing from her psychological research, real-life experiences, and her own individual expertise, to provide insightful perspectives and practical advice.Episode 28, Season II: “Running on Empty: Understanding Emotional Burnout, Allostatic Load & The High Cost of Carrying Too Much”In this deeply validating and eye-opening episode of The Love Doc Podcast, Dr. Sarah Hensley and Raina Butcher tackle an issue that is quietly suffocating millions of people; emotional burnout. They break down why so many individuals, especially women, are reaching a breaking point.Dr. Hensley introduces listeners to the scientific concept of allostatic load, the cumulative wear and tear on the body caused by chronic emotional stress. Whether you’re navigating overwhelming responsibilities at work, carrying the mental load of a household, juggling the emotional needs of children, or fighting for connection in an insecurely attached relationship, the body registers every single demand. And eventually, it keeps the score.Dr. Hensley dives into the physiological reality of what happens when the emotional gas tank runs dry. She explains how constant stress dysregulates hormone production—particularly cortisol, adrenaline, and estrogen-progesterone balance—leading to symptoms like brain fog, irritability, emotional numbness, sleep disruption, inflammation, lowered immunity, hair loss, weight fluctuations, and difficulty accessing joy. Raina shares her own experiences with emotional overload, offering listeners a relatable window into what it feels like when your body quietly whispers… then suddenly screams… that enough is enough.Together, they illuminate how burnout is not a personal failure but a biological response to chronic, unrelenting demand. But this conversation isn’t just about naming the problem—it’s about offering a path forward. Dr. Hensley teaches listeners how to increase their emotional capacity by building a bigger “gas tank,” strengthening the nervous system through consistent, intentional regulation practices, realistic boundaries, appropriate rest cycles, and emotional processing skills. She reminds listeners that while humans are adaptable, we were never designed to live in perpetual survival mode. Our nervous systems were built for presence, connection, slowness, joy, and manageable stress—not the endless mental gymnastics required of modern life.This episode is heartfelt, honest, and profoundly hopeful, offering not just insight but compassion for everyone walking through the heaviness of emotional depletion.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.Patreons link: patreon.com/TheLoveDocPodcastDr. Hensley’s Hybrid Group Coaching: https://courses.thelovedoc.com/group-coachingBook one on one with Dr. Hensley or one of her certified coaches: Virtual CoachingPurchase Dr. Hensley’s online courses: https://courses.thelovedoc.com/coursesTik-Tok: @drsarahhensleyInstagram: @dr.sarahhensley_lovedocFacebook: Dr. Sarah HensleyYoutube: @Dr.SarahHensleyDisclaimer: 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.
    Show More Show Less
    43 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.