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Meet Dr. Lauren Costine: a lesbian psychologist, relationship coach, consultant, author, educator, activist, and international speaker.


Dr. Lauren gets it, because she herself is a lesbian….

I love talking to lesbian therapists like Dr. Lauren, because they have both the professional experience and the lived experience to deeply understand lesbian lifestyles and relationships.


How are lesbian lifestyles and relationships different from straight ones?


Could it be true that there’s a scientific reason why lesbian intimacy can feel more intense in the early stages of relationships than it feels for other groups?

In this episode of Women Wanting Women we talk about all of that and much more.

During the interview Dr. Lauren shares:

  • The scientific reason why lesbian intimacy is more intense in the early stages of relationships than it is for other groups…
  • The three different attachment styles (secure, anxious, and avoidant) and how they play out in lesbian relationships…
  • Internalized lesbian phobia: why it happens and how it impacts the way we feel about ourselves…
  • Tips for when you grew up with a mother who was critical or didn’t understand you, and steps for healing the mother wound… AND
  • A deep dive into addiction, addictive personalities and getting sober…

This is an episode you don’t want to miss.


Learn more about Dr. Lauren Costine and follow her on social media.


Dr. Lauren is a licensed psychologist, relationship coach, consultant, author, educator, activist, and international speaker. Dr. Lauren was an early pioneer of lesbian-affirmative therapy and she’s the author of the book Lesbian Love Addiction: Understanding the Urge to Merge and How To Heal When Things Go Wrong.

Dr. Lauren is also the co-founder and clinical director of the Awaken Therapy Center in Los Angeles that she co-founded with her wife, Vanessa Costine. Dr. Lauren is also passionate about her own podcast, called The Consciousness Salon, where she and her co-founder, Alana Rosjay, look at social justice issues from a psychological lens.

You can connect with Dr. Lauren at her website.

You can find more about Dr. Lauren’s book here

You can find out more about the Awaken Therapy Center here

And for anyone who wants to follow up on the books recommended on this episode, they are as follows:

If you enjoyed this episode then you will also get a lot out of some prior interviews, especially with lesbian psychologist Dr. Frankie Bashan, lesbian therapist Samantha Fox, and Lesbian Couples Institute founder Dr. Lynda Spann.