The Pursuer/Withdrawer Cycle with Dr. Laurie Watson

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Ever felt stuck in a toxic cycle of pursuit and withdrawal with your partner, leaving you feeling unheard, unwanted, or disconnected? This stirring conversation with esteemed sex therapist and licensed marriage & family therapist, Dr Laurie Watson will offer a refreshing perspective and actionable advice to help you navigate these rough patches. We unpack this complex dynamic that many relationships fall prey to, and discuss how it impacts both emotional and sexual connection.

We uncover how this pattern, often present in both romantic and sexual relationships, can lead to feelings of embarrassment, vulnerability, and shame. Our exploration into this cycle illuminates how it can affect women desiring more emotional connection while their partner tends to withdraw, leading to a disconnect that often seeps into their sexual relationship. We also shed light on the triggers that initiate this cycle and the profound impact it has on couples, making it difficult to identify and break.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom. Dr Laurie shares strategies to improve communication and connection, offering a beacon of hope. We look at how understanding our own survival mechanisms can affect our partners and potentially perpetuate the cycle. We also explore how to manage fears of sexual dysfunction and ways to foster flexibility in a sexual relationship. Finally, we emphasize the shared responsibility of both the pursuer and the withdrawer in breaking this cycle and fostering a healthier relationship. Trust us, you won't want to miss this enlightening conversation with Dr Laurie Watson. Let's dive in!

Today's Guest: Dr. Laurie Watson

Laurie Watson, Phd, MA, LMFT, LCMHC, AASECT Certified Sex Therapist & Supervisor in Training, Co-Host of FOREPLAY Radio Couples & Sex Therapy Podcast, LMFT, Author, Director of Awakenings Counseling, Training in EFT - Emotionally Focused Therapy (Externship and Core Skills; Completing Supervision).

She’s the co-host together with global leader in couple's therapy, George Faller, LMFT, of the popular podcast – FOREPLAY RADIO – Couples and Sex Therapy which is ranked in the top 10 sexuality podcasts in Sexuality. Laurie says, "Sex is one of the greatest adventures in a relationship. It makes us feel alive. It connects our minds, bodies and hearts. In fact, sexual and emotional intimacy are intertwined; we need both to be happy. With too little eroticism - our relationship is dull and with too little emotional connection - sex is mechanical. Most of us don’t know how to find this balance. And talking about our sexual needs is so risky. We might cause a conflict; we might be judged; we might not even know what o

Your Host: Kimberly Beam Holmes, Expert in Self-Improvement and Relationships


Kimberly Beam Holmes has applied her master's degree in psychology for over ten years, acting as the CEO of Marriage Helper & CEO and Creator of PIES University, being a wife and mother herself, and researching how attraction affects relationships. Her videos, podcasts, and following reach over 500,000 people a month who are making changes and becoming the best they can be.

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