YOUTUBE  |  APPLE   |  SPOTIFY

Episode Overview:
In this episode, Jen addresses a listener’s question about the anxious-avoidant dynamic in relationships, specifically regarding how disagreements tend to escalate quickly between them and their partner. Jen explores the underlying attachment styles at play, offering practical advice on how couples can break free from this exhausting cycle and communicate more effectively despite their nervous system reactions.

Key Takeaways:

The anxious-avoidant dynamic is a common issue in relationships and can be understood through attachment theory.

One partner may feel a need to get closer during conflict (anxious), while the other shuts down to cope (avoidant).

Understanding this dynamic is the first step towards healing. Creating pauses and giving each other space to regulate your nervous system can help break the cycle.

Jen outlines a few strategies to manage your nervous system in the heat of the moment, including grounding techniques and gentle movements to interrupt the freeze state.

Reframing the conflict by naming the cycle and seeing it as a shared experience can lead to more compassion and connection.

Jen’s Response:
Jen dives into the listener’s experience, explaining how both anxious and avoidant attachment behaviors stem from a deep desire for safety and connection, albeit in different ways. She encourages listeners to pause in the middle of conflict, use a “safe word” to de-escalate, and regulate their nervous systems before continuing the conversation. She also suggests reflecting on the cycle together outside of the argument, creating space for both partners to recognize their emotional triggers and meet each other with understanding.

Actionable Steps for Breaking the Cycle:

Create Pauses During Conflict: Use a pre-agreed "safe word" (like "Abacus") to signal when a break is needed.

Care for Your Nervous System: Practice grounding exercises such as feeling your feet on the floor, using calming scents, or small intentional movements.

Reframe the Cycle: Discuss your patterns when you’re calm, acknowledging both partners' triggers and reactions.

Communicate from a Place of Safety: Share needs like reassurance or time to reflect on the argument in a compassionate way.

Resources Mentioned:

Free Relationship Cycle Worksheet: Track Negative Cycles Workbook – A downloadable resource to help couples map their communication patterns and break the cycle.

Jen's Weekly Class: Weekly Masterclass on love, attachment, and trauma healing – Join Jen live every Monday at 7:30 AM (Australia) or Sunday at 5:30 PM (Eastern Time, US) for in-depth discussions on healing attachment patterns.

Work With Jennifer:

Jennifer Nurick works with couples using Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Internal Family Systems (IFS) to foster secure attachment and healthier relationships. Sessions are available during Australian daytime hours, suitable for evening sessions in the U.S.

Book your session: psychotherapycentral.health

Connect With Psychotherapy Central:

Website: psychotherapycentral.health

Instagram: @psychotherapy.central

Facebook: Psychotherapy Central

YouTube: Psychotherapy Central

💬 Loved this episode? Please leave a review or share it with someone who needs to hear: You are more loved than you know.

Have a Question for Jen? DM your burning relationship or healing questions on Instagram — no question is too big or small!

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review or share it with someone who’s learning to listen to their body again.

Until next time — keep listening, keep healing.

With warmth,
Jen 🌻

In this deeply moving episode of Psychotherapy Central, I speak with Paul King and Craig McMahon about their personal experiences of spiritual awakening, connection with the afterlife, and how grief can open a path to purpose.

Paul shares the story of how a reading with a psychic medium changed his life, leading to the creation of Awaken—a spiritually-minded festival in Sydney bringing together energy healers, mediums, and seekers. Craig, a film producer known for Life to Afterlife, talks about his calling to create spiritually uplifting media after working in mainstream Hollywood.

Together, we explore:

The moment Paul knew there was life after death

How Craig’s loss led to connection with angels and spirit guides

Why synchronicity is a form of spiritual communication

How grief can open us to deeper spiritual awareness

What it means to awaken to your soul’s path

Whether you're navigating loss, exploring consciousness, or seeking a spiritual community—this episode offers warmth, insight, and hope.

🎟️ Sydney Listeners:
Join us at the Awakin Festival, June 28–29 at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney
💸 Use code PC50OFF for 50% off tickets.
🌐 Tickets https://events.humanitix.com/theafterlifeconvention-awakin-sydney-hordernpavilion?discountcode=PC50OFF

Work With Jennifer:

Jennifer Nurick works with couples using Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Internal Family Systems (IFS) to foster secure attachment and healthier relationships. Sessions are available during Australian daytime hours, suitable for evening sessions in the U.S.

Book your session: psychotherapycentral.health

Connect With Psychotherapy Central:

Website: psychotherapycentral.health

Instagram: @psychotherapy.central

Facebook: Psychotherapy Central

YouTube: Psychotherapy Central

💬 Loved this episode? Please leave a review or share it with someone who needs to hear: You are more loved than you know.

APPLE | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE

In this episode of Psychotherapy Central, I take you inside one of the most powerful somatic tools I’ve ever encountered: Focusing, developed by philosopher and psychologist Eugene Gendlin.

If you’ve ever had a tightness in your chest, a lump in your throat, or a gut feeling that held more than words—you’ve already touched the edge of the felt sense. Focusing helps you go deeper.

Together, we’ll explore:

What the felt sense really is (and what it’s not)

The six simple steps of Focusing

Why Focusing is so effective in trauma healing

How to build a new, safe relationship with your body

Common questions people ask when starting this practice

Whether you’re a therapist or on your own healing journey, this episode gives you both insight and practice. I’ve also created a free guided audio to help you try Focusing for yourself (details below).

📥 Download the guided audio:
www.psychotherapycentral.health/anxious-attachment

📘 Want to go deeper?
Explore my book Heal Your Anxious Attachment for more on accessing and expressing the emotional truths inside.

💬 If this episode spoke to you, share it with someone you love or leave a review—it helps others find the show and begin their own healing journey.

With warmth,
Jen 🌻

Work With Jennifer:

Jennifer Nurick works one on one and with couples using Somatic practices, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Internal Family Systems (IFS) to foster secure attachment and healthier relationships. Sessions are available during Australian daytime hours, suitable for evening sessions in the U.S.

Book your session: psychotherapycentral.health

Connect With Psychotherapy Central:

Website: psychotherapycentral.health

Instagram: @psychotherapy.central

Facebook: Psychotherapy Central

YouTube: Psychotherapy Central

APPLE | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE

In this episode of Psychotherapy Central, I’m diving into the deeply transformative process of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFCT)—one of the most effective, evidence-based approaches to relationship healing.

Whether you're feeling stuck in repetitive arguments, disconnected from your partner, or simply longing for deeper emotional intimacy, EFCT offers a roadmap. I’ll walk you through the three stages of this powerful therapy model and explore how we can move from disconnection and reactivity to vulnerability and reconnection.

You’ll learn:

What EFCT is and why it works

The pursue–withdraw cycle and how it keeps couples stuck

How to transform protest into vulnerability

The role of attachment needs in conflict

How EFCT supports long-term relational healing

If you’re a therapist, in a relationship, or simply curious about deep emotional healing, this episode is for you.

📖 Referenced in this episode:
My book, Heal Your Anxious Attachment
Past podcast episodes on Internal Family Systems (Episodes 5–11)

Work With Jennifer:

Jennifer Nurick works with couples using Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Internal Family Systems (IFS) to foster secure attachment and healthier relationships. Sessions are available during Australian daytime hours, suitable for evening sessions in the U.S.

Book your session: psychotherapycentral.health

Connect With Psychotherapy Central:

Website: psychotherapycentral.health

Instagram: @psychotherapy.central

Facebook: Psychotherapy Central

YouTube: Psychotherapy Central

💬 Loved this episode? Share it with a friend or leave a review—it helps us reach more people doing the work of healing.

Much love,
Jen 🌻

Episode 45: Secure Attachment – What It Looks, Feels, and Sounds Like (And Why It Matters)

In this foundational episode of Psychotherapy Central, Jennifer Nurick dives deep into secure attachment—unpacking what it truly means, how it feels, and why it's essential for healthy, resilient relationships. After examining anxious and avoidant attachment styles, Jennifer shares vivid, real-life examples and critical insights into secure attachment to help listeners understand and embody this relationship dynamic.

Key Highlights:

Why Secure Attachment Matters: Jennifer outlines compelling research showing secure attachment is linked with better emotional regulation, increased relationship satisfaction, higher emotional intelligence, effective conflict resolution, greater life satisfaction, and even improved physical health and stress resilience.

Real-Life Examples of Secure Attachment: Learn how secure attachment manifests in everyday interactions, such as comfortably giving and receiving love, open and honest communication, experiencing trust without excessive fear, effectively handling conflicts without threatening the relationship, and gracefully repairing after misunderstandings.

Building Secure Attachment: Jennifer provides practical guidance on how you can cultivate secure attachment, even if it wasn't modeled in your early life.

Referenced Research and Resources:

Mikulincer & Shaver (2007). Attachment in Adulthood: Structure, Dynamics, and Change

Pistole & Arricale (2003). Understanding attachment: Beliefs about conflict

Kafetsios (2004). Attachment and emotional intelligence

Malouff & Schutte (2016). Attachment and subjective well-being

Karreman & Vingerhoets (2012). Attachment and resilience

McWilliams & Bailey (2010). Attachment ratings and health conditions

Maunder & Hunter (2001). Attachment and psychosomatic medicine

Related Episodes:

Ep. 44 – Repairing Attachment Injuries with Dr. Clare Rosoman

Ep. 2 – Avoidant Attachment Explained

Work With Jennifer:

Jennifer Nurick works with couples using Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Internal Family Systems (IFS) to foster secure attachment and healthier relationships. Sessions are available during Australian daytime hours, suitable for evening sessions in the U.S.

Book your session: psychotherapycentral.health

Connect With Psychotherapy Central:

Website: psychotherapycentral.health

Instagram: @psychotherapy.central

Facebook: Psychotherapy Central

YouTube: Psychotherapy Central

Hashtags: #SecureAttachment #RelationshipGoals #HealthyRelationships #AttachmentTheory #EmotionalIntelligence #ConflictResolution #RelationshipAdvice #EFTtherapy #IFStherapy #PsychotherapyCentral #CouplesCounseling #MentalHealthPodcast #Resilience #StressManagement #CommunicationSkills #TrustBuilding #RepairRelationships #SelfHealing

In this insightful episode of Psychotherapy Central, host Jennifer Nurick interviews Dr. Clare Rosoman, clinical psychologist, international Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) trainer, and author of three powerful books on attachment and relationship healing. With over 25 years of clinical experience, Clare brings profound wisdom and practical insights into healing attachment injuries—those painful breaches of trust, betrayal, or abandonment in relationships.

In this conversation, Clare and Jennifer explore:

Clare’s personal and professional journey into Emotionally Focused Therapy.

Why vulnerability is the "magic juice" of relationship healing and attachment security.

The hidden personal benefits therapists experience when working deeply with EFT.

The wide-ranging impact of attachment injuries, beyond just infidelity.

How attachment injuries disrupt fundamental questions of emotional safety and trust.

The Attachment Injury Resolution Model—an evidence-based framework to repair relational ruptures.

Why creating safety and stability is essential before healing attachment wounds.

Key Resources Mentioned:

Clare's Books:

Repairing Attachment Injuries in Close Relationships: An Emotionally Focused Guide to Moving Beyond Betrayal

An Emotionally Focused Guide to Relationship Loss: Life After Love

An Emotionally Focused Workbook for Relationship Loss: Healing Heartbreak Session by Session

Dr. Sue Johnson’s foundational EFT book:

Hold Me Tight by Dr. Sue Johnson

Related Episodes:

Episode 43: What Avoidants Really Need (But Struggle to Ask For)

Episode 40: Why We Choose Avoidant Partners: An Internal Family Systems Perspective

Episode 2: Avoidant Attachment Explained

Connect with Dr. Clare Rosoman:

Dr. Clare Rosoman’s Website

Instagram: @clarerosoman

Connect with Jennifer Nurick and Psychotherapy Central:

Website: psychotherapycentral.health

Instagram: @psychotherapy.central

Facebook: Psychotherapy Central

YouTube: Psychotherapy Central

Explore more resources, insights, and support for secure and fulfilling relationships at Psychotherapy Central.

#AttachmentInjuries #EmotionallyFocusedTherapy #EFTtherapy #RelationshipHealing #AttachmentTheory #TrustRepair #CouplesTherapy #SecureAttachment #AttachmentHealing #TherapyInsights #DrClareRosoman #PsychotherapyCentral #HealYourRelationships #AttachmentTrauma #MentalHealthPodcast #EmotionalIntimacy #RelationshipAdvice #HealingFromBetrayal

 APPLE | SPOTIFY

In this episode of Psychotherapy Central, host Jennifer Nurick delves into the often misunderstood world of avoidant attachment. While avoidantly attached individuals may appear self-sufficient and distant, they harbour deep emotional needs that they often find challenging to express.

In this episode Jennifer explores:

The internal experience of avoidant attachment

Core emotional needs of avoidant individuals, including:

Emotional safety without pressure

Acceptance for who they are

Connection on their terms

Freedom and autonomy within relationships

Reliability and consistency from partners

Non-verbal understanding

Validation of their feelings and boundaries

The reasons behind their difficulty in expressing these needs

Steps toward healing and fostering healthier relationships

Resources Mentioned:

Book: Heal Your Anxious Attachment by Jennifer Nurick. This holistic guide offers a trauma-informed approach to help individuals feel more secure, cultivate self-worth, and build healthier relationships.

Insight: Esther Perel emphasizes the importance of maintaining mystery and surprise in relationships to counteract routine and sustain desire.

Related Episodes:

Episode 2: Avoidant Attachment Explained – A comprehensive overview of avoidant attachment, its development, and its impact on relationships.

Episode 25: 9 Tips for Dating When You Are Avoidantly Attached – Practical advice for navigating the dating world with an avoidant attachment style.

Episode 31: Understanding Avoidant Attachment Behaviours – Delving deeper into the behaviors associated with avoidant attachment and strategies for change.

Episode 40: Why We Choose Avoidant Partners: An Internal Family Systems Perspective – Exploring the unconscious patterns that draw individuals to avoidant partners.

Connect with Jennifer Nurick:

Website: psychotherapycentral.health

Instagram: @psychotherapy.central

Facebook: Psychotherapy Central

YouTube: Psychotherapy Central

For further resources, insights, and support on your journey toward secure and fulfilling relationships, visit Psychotherapy Central.

Do you feel an overwhelming urgency to fix things right after a disagreement? Does the silence feel unbearable, like something terrible will happen if you don’t resolve it right away?

In this episode of Psychotherapy Central, we explore the deep-rooted reasons behind this response, from nervous system activation to attachment wounds.

You'll discover:
🔥 Why your body treats arguments like life-or-death situations
🧠 How past experiences shape your response to conflict
❤️ The pursuer-withdrawer cycle in relationships
🌿 Six powerful strategies to calm your nervous system and break the cycle

This isn’t about fixing the argument—it’s about learning to regulate yourself so you can respond from a grounded, secure place.

📩 Have a question for Jen? – Email us at [email protected]

👶 Meet Your Inner Child Mini-Course – Learn to connect with and parent your younger parts:
https://www.psychotherapycentral.health/meet-your-inner-child-registration

💌 Join My Mailing List – Get exclusive content and offers:
https://www.psychotherapycentral.health/site/contact

For more content like this, follow Psychotherapy Central:

To get help on your journey through life, access our offerings:

💖 If you found this episode helpful, please share it with someone who might need it. And don’t forget to leave a review—you might just win free access to one of my courses!

For more content on love, attachment, and healing, follow me on Instagram: @psychotherapy.central

See you next time!
Warmly,
Jen

Do you find yourself repeatedly drawn to emotionally unavailable partners, even though you crave connection? In this episode of Psychotherapy Central, we explore why this pattern happens through the lens of Internal Family Systems (IFS), or parts work.

You'll discover:

💔 Why avoidant behavior is protective and how it forms
🧠 How your own avoidant part might be choosing unavailable partners
❤️ How childhood wounds and unprocessed relationship trauma influence partner choice
🌿 The steps to break free from these patterns and cultivate secure attachment

IFS helps us understand the parts within us that unknowingly lead us toward distant partners. Healing begins with self-awareness, compassion, and working with these protective parts.

💌 Join My Mailing List – Be the first to know about new offers and resources:
https://www.psychotherapycentral.health/site/contact

👶 Meet Your Inner Child Mini-Course – A self-paced course to connect with and nurture your inner child:
https://www.psychotherapycentral.health/meet-your-inner-child-registration

📚 Heal Your Anxious Attachment – My signature course to develop secure attachment within yourself and in relationships:
https://www.psychotherapycentral.health/heal-your-anxious-attachment

🎧 EP2: Avoidant Attachment Explained
🎧 EP5: What is IFS Therapy? Internal Family Systems Therapy Explained

For more content like this, follow Psychotherapy Central:

To get help on your journey through life, access our offerings:

💖 I hope you found this episode insightful. If you enjoyed it, please leave a rating or review. If you're watching on YouTube, don't forget to like and subscribe—it really helps!

👉 For more content on love, attachment, and healing, follow me on Instagram: @psychotherapy.central

See you next time!
Warmly,
Jen

#PsychotherapyCentral #IFS #AnxiousAttachment #RelationshipHealing #SelfAwareness #EmotionalHealing #AttachmentStyles #SelfCompassion #InnerWork #HealingJourney #MindfulRelationships #TherapyTools #BreakTheCycle #HealYourAnxiousAttachment #CycleBreakers #SelfHealers

Have you ever found yourself texting your partner repeatedly, withdrawing to get their attention, or starting arguments over small issues? These are protest behaviors—your nervous system’s way of saying, I need to feel safe and connected.

In this episode, we dive deep into:

🔹 What protest behaviors are and why they happen

🔹 How childhood attachment wounds shape these reactions

🔹 The impact of protest behaviors on adult relationships

🔹 How Internal Family Systems (IFS) can help you heal these patterns

IFS teaches us that these behaviors stem from protective parts of us—exiles carrying deep fears of abandonment, and managers trying to keep us safe. Instead of criticizing yourself, you can learn to approach these parts with awareness, curiosity, and compassion.

💡 Want to go deeper?

📖 Heal Your Anxious Attachment—my book includes over 20 meditations and practical tools to support your healing. Available at all major book retailers.

🎧 IFS Deep Dive—Listen to episodes 5-13 of this podcast, especially episode 5, to understand IFS more deeply.

📲 More resources in the “ATTACHMENT” highlight on my Instagram.

If this episode resonated with you, please leave a 5-star review—it really helps!

🌿 Healing takes time, and every step you take matters. Love, Jen 💛

For more content like this, follow Psychotherapy Central:

To get help on your journey through life, access our offerings:

#PsychotherapyCentral #IFS #AnxiousAttachment #RelationshipHealing #SelfAwareness #EmotionalHealing #AttachmentStyles #SelfCompassion #InnerWork #HealingJourney #MindfulRelationships #TherapyTools #BreakTheCycle #HealYourAnxiousAttachment #CycleBreakers #SelfHealers