What if the very strategies you’ve used to survive—perfectionism, overachievement, emotional detachment—are now keeping you from the love and connection you crave?

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Stephanie Lopez, founder of The Brave Method and former NASA psychologist, for a deep and honest conversation about the defense mechanisms we develop early in life to stay safe—and how those same patterns can quietly disconnect us from our truth, our relationships, and ourselves.

Stephanie shares her journey of stepping away from a prestigious, successful career in psychology to follow her intuition into work that felt more aligned. Even after years of training, she found that traditional tools often failed to get to the heart of true healing and self-love. It wasn’t until she began listening to her body, her heart, and her inner knowing that everything began to shift.

I also share how attending one of Stephanie’s Brave Method events cracked something open in me. Her work helped me recognize the subtle ways I was still armored and allowed me to soften into a deeper connection with myself.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in old patterns—striving, pleasing, avoiding—and you’re ready to come back home to yourself, this episode is a must.

In this episode, we explore:

• The subtle ways defense mechanisms shape our behavior and disconnect us

• Why perfectionism, anxiety, and control are often unhealed protection

• The limits of traditional psychology in accessing true self-love

• How intuition, embodiment, and self-compassion open the door to real healing

• What it looks like to release the armor and live more bravely and openly

Resources Mentioned:

• Learn more about Dr. Stephanie Lopez and The Brave Method: www.brave-method.com

• Connect with Stephanie on Instagram: @drstephanielopez

  Discover her 4 step process to ditch anxiety for good: https://www.brave-method.com/anxiety