In honor of the release of her new book Safe, I sit down with licensed therapist and author of Anxiously Attached, Jessica Baum, for a powerful conversation about what it truly means to heal anxious attachment. We explore how safety shapes every aspect of our relationships, how old abandonment wounds resurface in adulthood, and why somatic awareness and co-regulation are at the heart of real transformation. Jessica brings both clinical expertise and deep compassion to this discussion, offering grounded insights and practical tools for anyone ready to move from anxious to secure attachment.

In the episode, we dive deep on:

• What It Really Takes to Heal Anxious Attachment: why understanding your style isn’t enough without cultivating felt safety and nervous system regulation.

• Safety as the Foundation of Secure Relationships: exploring how safety fluctuates moment to moment and how to recognize when you’re in protection vs. connection.

• Healing Abandonment Wounds: unpacking the deep emotional imprints of abandonment and how they influence adult intimacy.

• The Power of Co-Regulation: how safe, attuned relationships act as emotional anchors that retrain your nervous system.

• Somatic Awareness and Emotional Processing: integrating body-based practices to recognize, release, and move through emotional triggers.

• Compassion as a Healing Catalyst: learning to soften self-judgment and extend understanding toward both yourself and others.

• Evolving Toward Secure Attachment: embracing healing as a lifelong, relational journey that thrives on emotional diversification and consistent support.

Healing resources for anyone struggling with anxious attachment:

• Read dozens of free blogs on how to heal the anxious attachment style on my website, crackliffe.com
• Grab a copy of my new book, Needy No More: The Journey From Anxious to Secure Attachment, at crackliffe.com/needy
• Explore my downloadable healing toolkit for anxious attachers at crackliffe.com/starterkit
• Learn more about the Needy No More coaching program and set up a free consultation at crackliffe.com/coaching
• Follow @crackliffe on Instagram and TikTok for tons more content on all things healing anxious attachment

To connect with Jessica Baum, follow her @jessicabaumlmhc on Instagram and get the freebies Jessica mentions in the episode at https://jessicabaumlmhc.com/interview

Get your copy of Safe: An Attachment-Informed Guide to Building More Secure Relationships at https://amzn.to/4npO7RJ

Keywords: anxious attachment, anxious attachment style, healing, relationships, safety, co-regulation, abandonment wounds, somatics, compassion, emotional support, inner child