From Both Sides Of The Couch: Self-Awareness, Psychology & Mindfulness for Women

Do you ever feel like you've lost touch with yourself?

Maybe you're overwhelmed by everyone else's needs, emotionally exhausted, or simply moving through the motions of daily life wondering why you don't feel like yourself anymore.

Welcome to From Both Sides of the Couch, a psychology and mindfulness podcast for women who want to reconnect with themselves and create lives that feel more grounded, intentional, and fulfilling.

I'm Dr. Laurie Bruce, a licensed clinical psychologist and mindfulness coach with more than 25 years of experience helping women navigate stress, anxiety, burnout, difficult relationships, perfectionism, life transitions, and the emotional challenges that come with caring for everyone but themselves.

Each week, we'll explore the psychology behind why we think, feel, and behave the way we do, while learning practical mindfulness skills that help you move from autopilot to greater awareness, self-trust, and emotional well-being. Together we'll talk about topics like:

Stress and anxiety
Burnout and emotional exhaustion
Mindfulness and self-awareness
Boundaries and people-pleasing
Relationships and communication
Perfectionism and self-compassion
Midlife transitions and personal growth
Emotional regulation and resilience

My goal isn't to help you become someone new.

It's to help you reconnect with the person you've always been beneath the responsibilities, expectations, and endless doing.

If you're ready to slow down, understand yourself more deeply, and begin living with greater intention, I'm so glad you're here.

Let's connect: www.drlauriebruce.com

🌿 Take the "How Connected Are You?" Quiz
Discover how connected you are to yourself and receive personalized insights to help you begin reconnecting with greater awareness and intention.
Take the quiz: https://drlauriebruce.com/quiz

🤍 Join My Free Community
Continue the conversation inside our free Skool community, where you'll find encouragement, practical resources, and a supportive group of women who are learning to live with greater presence, self-trust, and intention.
Join here: https://www.skool.com/resilient-and-restored-8441/about

✨ Ready to go deeper?
If you're looking for ongoing support and guided practices to help you reconnect with yourself and create a more intentional life, I'd love to welcome you into Resilient & Restored, my membership for women who are ready to move beyond simply getting through their days and begin living with greater purpose and peace.
Learn more: https://drlauriebruce.com/resilientandrestored

Do you ever feel like you've lost touch with yourself?

Maybe you're overwhelmed by everyone else's needs, emotionally exhausted, or simply moving through the motions of daily life wondering why you don't feel like yourself anymore.

Stress and anxiety
Burnout and emotional exhaustion
Mindfulness and self-awareness
Boundaries and people-pleasing
Relationships and communication
Perfectionism and self-compassion
Midlife transitions and personal growth
Emotional regulation and resilience

My goal isn't to help you become someone new.

It's to help you reconnect with the person you've always been beneath the responsibilities, expectations, and endless doing.

If you're ready to slow down, understand yourself more deeply, and begin living with greater intention, I'm so glad you're here.

Let's connect: www.drlauriebruce.com

Listen on:

Episodes

Dec 30, 2025

Episode 62: Burnout Unpacked: Reclaim Your Energy with Boundaries

Dec 30, 2025

26 min

What is — and isn’t — burnout according to research?
In today’s episode, we explore the clinical definition of burnout, why healthcare professionals are especially vulnerable to it, and the three dimensions of burnout as defined by Dr. Maslach.
Join me, Dr. Laurie Bruce, as we break down how to differentiate burnout from clinical depression, why chronic workplace stress slowly erodes well-being, and the key factors that increase the risk of burnout — along with what you can actually do about it.
Because burnout isn’t a personal failure. It’s a predictable response to prolonged stress, and understanding it clearly is the first step toward meaningful change.

Listen to this week’s episode of From Both Sides Of The Couch: Burnout Explained: 3 Signs You’re Burned Out And What to Do.

Enjoy this episode? Follow us on your favorite podcast platforms and leave a 5-star review!

Dr. Laurie Bruce is a clinical psychologist and mindfulness coach. She received her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 2000. Her expertise is in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which is a treatment that combines both traditional cognitive and behavioral strategies with Eastern Mindfulness practices. She is also a Certified Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapist and completed a year-long intensive training through the Integrative Psychiatry Institute. She’s passionate about the safe, legal, and ethical use of psychedelic medicines to help address trauma, mood, and anxiety disorders and for personal and spiritual development.

Follow her socials:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555258666969
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlauriebruce/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-bruce-psy-d-0201277/

Visit her website.
Website: https://www.drlauriebruce.com/

#BurnoutAwareness #HealthcareBurnout #WorkplaceStress

Dec 23, 2025

Episode 61: Fear Explained: Understanding Our Emotions Series

Dec 23, 2025

24 min

Hey friends! In this episode, we’re diving into the emotion of fear and why it shows up as a response to danger.

Join me, Dr. Laurie Bruce, as we explore why emotions are essential to the human experience, how we should put up boundaries as clinicians, and what happens in the body physiologically when fear is activated. We’ll also talk about the truth about panic attacks, why they happen, and how they can become agoraphobic when they go unsupported.

Fear isn’t always a bad thing. It’s one of the ways our body protects us and helps us survive. The key is becoming aware of what’s driving the fear and developing the self-awareness to understand whether it’s responding to real danger or something else.

Listen to this week’s episode of From Both Sides Of The Couch: Fear Explained: Understanding Our Emotions Series.

Enjoy this episode? Subscribe and leave a 5-star review!

Dr. Laurie Bruce is a clinical psychologist and mindfulness coach. She received her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 2000. Her expertise is in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which is a treatment that combines both traditional cognitive and behavioral strategies with Eastern Mindfulness practices. She is also a Certified Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapist and completed a year-long intensive training through the Integrative Psychiatry Institute. She’s passionate about the safe, legal, and ethical use of psychedelic medicines to help address trauma, mood, and anxiety disorders and for personal and spiritual development.

Follow her socials:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555258666969
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlauriebruce/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-bruce-psy-d-0201277/

Visit her website.
Website: https://www.drlauriebruce.com/

#UnderstandingFear #EmotionalAwareness #MindBodyConnection

Dec 16, 2025

Episode 60: Staying Calm With Intense Clients

Dec 16, 2025

20 min

Are you a therapist, coach, or teacher? This episode is for you. Today, we’re talking about regulating our own emotions, noticing our level of burnout, and staying steady and compassionate as we support emotionally intense or dysregulated clients.

Join me, Dr. Laurie Bruce, your clinical psychologist and mindfulness coach, as we explore why tending to our own emotional needs matters, what drives emotional intensity and behavioral reactions, and how those responses unfold when someone is overwhelmed.

And before you dive in, take a moment to honor yourself. Your work is hard and deeply human, and you show up anyway. Remember, their intensity isn’t personal — it’s a sign of how much they’re carrying.

Enjoy this episode? Follow us on your favorite podcast platforms and leave a 5-star review!

Dr. Laurie Bruce is a clinical psychologist and mindfulness coach. She received her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 2000. Her expertise is in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which is a treatment that combines both traditional cognitive and behavioral strategies with Eastern Mindfulness practices. She is also a Certified Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapist and completed a year-long intensive training through the Integrative Psychiatry Institute. She’s passionate about the safe, legal, and ethical use of psychedelic medicines to help address trauma, mood, and anxiety disorders and for personal and spiritual development.

Follow her socials:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555258666969
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlauriebruce/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-bruce-psy-d-0201277/

Visit her website.
Website: https://www.drlauriebruce.com/

#TherapistLife #MindfulnessCoach #EmotionalRegulation

Dec 9, 2025

Episode 59: Healing Anxious Attachment: 5 Steps to Build a Secure Attachment Style

Dec 9, 2025

18 min

What are the ways you’re tending to your attachment wounds? Today, we continue our series on attachment styles by exploring how healing is possible and how we can move toward a more secure attachment.
Join me, Dr. Laurie Bruce, as we walk through five strategies you can begin practicing daily: attunement, nervous system soothing, imagery, co-regulation, and validation. Small, repeated steps that gently rewire us toward safety.
Because anxious attachment lives in the nervous system, and creating change takes time, patience, and compassionate work.

Listen to this episode of From Both Sides Of The Couch: Healing Anxious Attachment: 5 Steps to Build a Secure Attachment Style

Enjoy this episode? Follow us on Spotify and leave a 5-star review!

Dr. Laurie Bruce is a clinical psychologist and mindfulness coach. She received her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 2000. Her expertise is in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which is a treatment that combines both traditional cognitive and behavioral strategies with Eastern Mindfulness practices. She is also a Certified Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapist and completed a year-long intensive training through the Integrative Psychiatry Institute. She’s passionate about the safe, legal, and ethical use of psychedelic medicines to help address trauma, mood, and anxiety disorders and for personal and spiritual development.

Follow her socials:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555258666969
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlauriebruce/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-bruce-psy-d-0201277/

Visit her website.
Website: https://www.drlauriebruce.com/

#SecureAttachment #AnxiousAttachment #HealingAttachmentWounds

Dec 2, 2025

Episode 58: Anxious Attachment Explained: How It Impacts Your Relationships

Dec 2, 2025

18 min

Hey beloved! In today’s episode of From Both Sides Of The Couch, we’re starting a new series by unpacking a topic that’s been everywhere on social media lately: attachment styles — with a focus on anxious attachment.

Join me, Dr. Laurie Bruce, clinical psychologist and mindfulness coach, as we look at the early research on attachment and explore real client stories about anxious attachment. We’ll dive into why this pattern develops and the 8 signs that an adult may be experiencing it.

And remember, anxious attachment is not the same as anxiety, and it doesn’t mean you’re flawed or broken. There’s no room for blame or shame here. Naming it is meant to empower you, not label you, so you can create healthier, more supportive changes in your life.

Listen to this week’s episode of From Both Sides Of The Couch: Anxious Attachment Explained: How It Impacts Your Relationships

Enjoy this episode? Follow us on your favorite podcast platforms and leave a 5-star review!

Dr. Laurie Bruce is a clinical psychologist and mindfulness coach. She received her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 2000. Her expertise is in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which is a treatment that combines both traditional cognitive and behavioral strategies with Eastern Mindfulness practices. She is also a Certified Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapist and completed a year-long intensive training through the Integrative Psychiatry Institute. She’s passionate about the safe, legal, and ethical use of psychedelic medicines to help address trauma, mood, and anxiety disorders and for personal and spiritual development.

Follow her socials:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555258666969
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlauriebruce/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-bruce-psy-d-0201277/

Visit her website.
Website: https://www.drlauriebruce.com/

#AttachmentStyles #AnxiousAttachment #PsychologyTalk

Nov 25, 2025

Episode 57: Stop Self-Sabotage: Recognize It and Rise Above

Nov 25, 2025

25 min

Hi there, friends! Have you ever wondered if some of the struggles in your life might be rooted in your own patterns? In this episode of From Both Sides Of The Couch, we’re talking about self-sabotage—what it truly means and the strategies that can help prevent it from quietly shaping your life.

Join me, Dr. Laurie Bruce, your friendly clinical psychologist and mindfulness coach, as we explore the definition of self-sabotage, the ways people unknowingly engage in it, and how these behaviors limit the way we show up in the world.

There’s a fine line between healthily celebrating ourselves and slipping into self-sabotage. When we increase our awareness of the behaviors that work against us, we create more space to shift, grow, and choose differently.

Watch the From Both Sides Of The Couch podcast: Stop Self-Sabotage: Recognize It and Rise Above

Enjoy this episode? Follow us on Spotify and leave a 5-star review!

Dr. Laurie Bruce is a clinical psychologist and mindfulness coach. She received her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 2000. Her expertise is in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which is a treatment that combines both traditional cognitive and behavioral strategies with Eastern Mindfulness practices. She is also a Certified Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapist and completed a year-long intensive training through the Integrative Psychiatry Institute. She’s passionate about the safe, legal, and ethical use of psychedelic medicines to help address trauma, mood, and anxiety disorders and for personal and spiritual development.

Follow her socials:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555258666969
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlauriebruce/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-bruce-psy-d-0201277/

Visit her website.
Website: https://www.drlauriebruce.com/

#SelfSabotage #MindfulnessPractice #EmotionalAwareness

Nov 18, 2025

Episode 56: How to Manage Your Emotions: Healthy Coping Skills for Anxiety, Anger & Overwhelm

Nov 18, 2025

23 min

Hey friends! Do you ever lash out when you’re anxious or angry, only to regret it afterward? You might be needing healthier coping skills. In this episode of From Both Sides Of The Couch, we’ll unpack dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) with the goal of helping you understand how to use DBT skills effectively.

Join me, Dr. Laurie Bruce, as we talk through the four DBT modules, how long the process usually takes, and how to know when it’s time to lean on these skills. Building healthy coping skills is a gradual, compassionate process that moves through different stages before you truly start to notice change.

Recognize your progress and remember that everyone’s journey looks different. There’s no right or wrong here—just the commitment to honoring your own process.

Listen to this week’s episode of From Both Sides Of The Couch: How to Manage Your Emotions: Healthy Coping Skills for Anxiety, Anger & Overwhelm

Enjoy this episode? Follow us on your favorite podcast platforms and leave a 5-star review!

Dr. Laurie Bruce is a clinical psychologist and mindfulness coach. She received her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 2000. Her expertise is in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which is a treatment that combines both traditional cognitive and behavioral strategies with Eastern Mindfulness practices. She is also a Certified Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapist and completed a year-long intensive training through the Integrative Psychiatry Institute. She’s passionate about the safe, legal, and ethical use of psychedelic medicines to help address trauma, mood, and anxiety disorders and for personal and spiritual development.

Follow her socials:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555258666969
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlauriebruce/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-bruce-psy-d-0201277/

Visit her website.
Website: https://www.drlauriebruce.com/

#DBTSkills #EmotionalRegulation #CopingSkills

Nov 11, 2025

Episode 55: Change Your Words, Change Your Power: Speak With Intention And Strength

Nov 11, 2025

16 min

Hey friends! Have you ever noticed how certain words can make you feel small—losing your power even before the conversation begins? In this episode of From Both Sides Of The Couch, we’ll explore why one of the most powerful tools for emotional intelligence lies in the words we use every day.

Join me, Dr. Laurie Bruce, your clinical psychologist and mindfulness coach, as we talk about how mindful communication can move you from powerlessness to clarity. I’ll be sharing five simple yet impactful shifts that can help you strengthen self-empowerment through language.

We’re here to pay attention and respond with intention. It’s our responsibility to frame our lives and set boundaries with honesty and compassion. Because small shifts in the way we speak can create big transformations in how we live.

Watch this episode of From Both Sides Of The Couch: Change Your Words, Change Your Power: Speak With Intention And Strength

Enjoy this episode? Follow us on your favorite podcast platforms and leave a 5-star review!

Dr. Laurie Bruce is a clinical psychologist and mindfulness coach. She received her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 2000. Her expertise is in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which is a treatment that combines both traditional cognitive and behavioral strategies with Eastern Mindfulness practices. She is also a Certified Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapist and completed a year-long intensive training through the Integrative Psychiatry Institute. She’s passionate about the safe, legal, and ethical use of psychedelic medicines to help address trauma, mood, and anxiety disorders and for personal and spiritual development.

Follow her socials:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555258666969
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlauriebruce/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-bruce-psy-d-0201277/

Visit her website.
Website: https://www.drlauriebruce.com/

#MindfulCommunication #EmotionalIntelligence #SelfEmpowerment

Nov 4, 2025

Episode 54: Overachieving: When Success Isn’t Enough, Finding Peace Beyond Achievement

Nov 4, 2025

15 min

Are you always striving to be better, stronger, faster—just more of everything?
Hey friends! In this episode of From Both Sides Of The Couch, we’ll talk about why so many of us still don’t feel “enough” despite the hustle and hard work, and why trying harder isn’t the real solution.
Join me, Dr. Laurie Bruce, as we explore why striving and overachieving rarely bring the peace, joy, and fulfillment we’re seeking. We’ll also uncover how our childhood experiences shape the way we think as adults and dive into the three powerful questions that can help you find true peace and meaning in your life.

Watch the full episode of From Both Sides Of The Couch: Overachieving: When Success Isn’t Enough, Finding Peace Beyond Achievement.

Enjoy this episode? Follow us on your favorite podcast platforms and leave a 5-star review!

Dr. Laurie Bruce is a clinical psychologist and mindfulness coach. She received her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 2000. Her expertise is in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which is a treatment that combines both traditional cognitive and behavioral strategies with Eastern Mindfulness practices. She is also a Certified Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapist and completed a year-long intensive training through the Integrative Psychiatry Institute. She’s passionate about the safe, legal, and ethical use of psychedelic medicines to help address trauma, mood, and anxiety disorders and for personal and spiritual development.

Follow her socials:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555258666969
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlauriebruce/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-bruce-psy-d-0201277/

Visit her website.
Website: https://www.drlauriebruce.com/

#OvercomingPerfectionism #SelfCompassion #InnerPeace

Oct 28, 2025

Episode 53: How to Overcome Guilt and Shame: Psychology and Practical Healing Advice

Oct 28, 2025

28 min

Hey friends! Do you ever find yourself weighed down by guilt or regret for things in the past? In today’s episode of From Both Sides Of The Couch, we’ll explore the difference between guilt and shame and learn practical ways to move through both with compassion.

Join me as we unpack why these emotions, though uncomfortable, are necessary parts of being human. We’ll also talk about how to recognize when guilt or shame is appropriate and when it’s not.

Sometimes, healing takes repetition. So if what you need is to keep practicing self-care again and again, do it. Slow down, breathe, and let the waves of emotion move through you. Change begins within.

Listen to this week’s episode of From Both Sides Of The Couch: How to Overcome Guilt and Shame: Psychology and Practical Healing Advice

Enjoy this episode? Follow us on your favorite podcast platforms and leave a 5-star review!

Dr. Laurie Bruce is a clinical psychologist and mindfulness coach. She received her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 2000. Her expertise is in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which is a treatment that combines both traditional cognitive and behavioral strategies with Eastern Mindfulness practices. She is also a Certified Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapist and completed a year-long intensive training through the Integrative Psychiatry Institute. She’s passionate about the safe, legal, and ethical use of psychedelic medicines to help address trauma, mood, and anxiety disorders and for personal and spiritual development.

Follow her socials:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555258666969
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlauriebruce/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-bruce-psy-d-0201277/

Visit her website.
Website: https://www.drlauriebruce.com/

#OvercomingGuilt #ShameAndGuilt #MindfulnessPractice