After divorce, letting someone close again can bring up questions you never expected: Can I trust my judgment? Will I feel comfortable in my body? How do I ask for what I need without feeling guilty?In this episode of Bent Not Broken: Life After Divorce, Coach Deborah welcomes licensed counselor and certified sex therapist Hannah Smith for an honest conversation about rediscovering yourself and rebuilding emotional and physical intimacy after divorce.Hannah shares how her own experience as a neurodivergent person shaped her interest in understanding people and helping clients embrace who they are. Together, we explore how silencing your needs in a marriage can leave you disconnected from your identity, your body, and even your sense of joy.From questioning what makes a “good wife” to recognizing whether you’re dating out of loneliness or self-love, this conversation offers a compassionate starting point for women ready to build relationships that honor their needs.In This Episode, We Discuss:Rediscovering yourself after divorce: Exploring your preferences, interests, and sources of joy when you’ve spent years putting yourself last.Reconnecting with your body: How mindfulness and a sensory practice called sensate focus can help you notice physical sensations without pressure to perform.Understanding discomfort in new relationships: Why familiar survival patterns can follow you into dating—and why discomfort deserves attention without automatically being a red flag.Building body confidence in midlife: Taking small steps toward self-expression, whether that means dancing, wearing bright colors, or trying something you’ve held yourself back from.Releasing old expectations: Separating your own values from the roles and rules other people placed on you.Dating from self-love: Considering whether you want to share a fulfilling life with someone or are seeking a relationship primarily to escape fear and loneliness.Setting healthy boundaries: Understanding the difference between a request, a boundary, and an attempt to control someone else.Recognizing respect: Noticing how a potential partner responds when you express a need or say no.A Thought to Carry With YouHannah invites us to replace “Am I being good enough?” with a more useful question: “Is this choice helping me move toward the life and relationship I want?”One Small Step This WeekChoose one activity that helps you feel more connected to your body. Take a comfortable walk, listen to music you love, or notice the warmth of sunshine on your skin. Give yourself room to discover what feels enjoyable, without making it another task to get right.Connect with Hannah SmithLearn more about Hannah’s counseling and sex therapy services at <a href="https://www.hannahsmithcounseling.com/">hannahsmithcounseling.com</a>.Enjoyed

Intimacy After Divorce: Rebuilding Confidence, Self-Trust, and Healthy Boundaries with Hannah Smith, LPC

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