Parenting sensitive, neurodivergent children can be both sacred and overwhelming.

In this heartfelt conversation, Jennifer J. Lehr, LMFT, speaks with Dr. Nicole Dolan—depth psychologist, author, and mother of three—about the profound challenges and transformations that come with parenting complex children and sustaining a conscious marriage.

Together, they reveal how healing our own emotional imprints allows us to show up more consciously for our children and partners.

They explore how nervous-system imprints shape our relationships, how marriage becomes a crucible for growth, and how conscious parenting invites both partners into deeper healing.

✨ In this episode:
• Parenting and marriage under pressure
• Understanding nervous-system imprints
• The dynamics of self-sacrifice and resentment
• Co-parenting and teamwork
• The spiritual and ancestral layers of family healing

💜 A powerful conversation about the art of chaos, the work of love, and finding renewal as both a parent and partner.

🔗 Connect:
Dr. Nicole Dolan — https://drnicoledolan.com
Jennifer J. Lehr, LMFT & Author — https://jenniferlehrmft.com

💗 If this episode resonated, please follow The Yearning Heart Podcast and share it with someone who’s on their own healing journey.

00:00 Introduction to Parenting Challenges
03:18 Navigating Neurodiversity in Children
06:15 The Impact of Parenting on Marriage
09:58 Understanding Marital Dynamics and Personal Growth
12:56 The Work of Marriage and Emotional Imprints
17:41 Finding Balance in Relationships
20:29 Individual Responsibility in Partnerships
27:52 The Dynamics of Self-Sacrifice in Relationships
30:40 Navigating Narcissism and Martyrdom
31:52 The Soul’s Journey and Ancestral Influence
33:20 Marriage as a Crucible for Growth
36:07 Deciding to Stay or Leave: The Inner Conflict
38:09 Transformation Through Conscious Work
40:08 Co-Parenting Dynamics and Teamwork
42:34 The Unique Journey of Parenting a Special Child
49:00 The Call for Conscious Parenting

Tags: parenting, autism, marriage, relationships, depth psychology, sensitive children, co-parenting, nervous system, trauma healing, personal growth, Jennifer J. Lehr, LMFT, Dr. Nicole Dolan, The Yearning Heart Podcast

In this episode (16) of The Yearning Heart Podcast, Jennifer J. Lehr, LMFT, speaks with Willow Light, an esthetician, herbalist, and intuitive healer, about her powerful journey of healing from childhood trauma and toxic relationships.

Willow shares openly about growing up in foster care, the impact of her mother’s mental illness, and how these wounds shaped her choices in love. From a stable but spiritually mismatched marriage, to a painful six-year relationship with a narcissistic alcoholic, to the deep healing that followed—including psilocybin journeys and therapy—her story is one of resilience, courage, and transformation.

Now, Willow is in a spiritually aligned relationship with someone she’s known since childhood. Her journey shows how our deepest wounds can lead us toward growth, self-love, and hope.

✨ Topics in this episode:

• The “mother wound” and “father wound” in relationships

• Why we sometimes attract toxic partners

• The seductive pull of narcissistic love

• Nature, meditation, and psilocybin as healing tools

• Moving from dependency → toxic entanglement → interdependent love

💜 A story of descent, healing, and renewal—proof that even our most painful chapters can open the way to love.

For more information or to read the full transcript for this episode go to https://weconcile.com/yearning-heart-podcast.

Chapters

00:00 Healing Through Relationships: Willow's Journey

01:04 Willow's Relationship Overview

02:36 Introduction to Willow's Journey

04:24 The Impact of Early Trauma

07:01 Finding Strength in Adversity

09:53 Seeking Stability: The First Marriage

10:59 Not Chosen - A Wound

14:23 The Shift in Spiritual Connection

17:39 Co-Parenting and Collaboration Post-Divorce

20:58 The Guilt and Shame

22:31 Dreams and Intuition

23:37 Voice of Sabotage

27:11 The New Relationship and the Hook

29:40 Red Flags

30:27 Navigating Alcohol and Relationships

33:57 Alcoholism/ Narcissism/Mother Wound

37:02 Beginning to Leave

41:13 Co-Dependent

41:50 Breaking Free from Toxic Patterns

44:23 Psilocybin Journey

49:52 Choosing to Heal

51:12 New Relationship

59:35 Finding a Healthy Connection

01:02:01 Interdependence

01:02:37 Willow's Relational Arc

01:04:58 Thank You

01:05:49 Connect with Willow

01:06:10 More about Jennifer Lehr LMFT

In this episode (15) of the Yearning Heart podcast, Jennifer J. Lehr, LMFT delves into the insights shared by Dennis regarding mindfulness, relationships, and personal growth.

She emphasizes the importance of mindfulness in therapy,how it can be used to enhance self-awareness and emotional regulation, and the potential pitfalls of using mindfulness defensively. She also explores how mindfulness can heal anxious and avoidant attachment styles, deepen self-awareness, and strengthen relationships.explores the significance of attachment styles in relationships, the necessityvof growth and shared core values between partners, and the importance of focusing on what works in a relationship to foster connection and understanding.

Takeaways

Mindfulness helps strengthen the witness within us.

Being mindful allows us to notice our experiences withoutmerging with them.

Mindfulness can be misused as a defense mechanism.

It's essential to engage with our feelings rather than avoidthem.

Attachment styles influence how we can best use mindfulness in relationships.

Growth in relationships requires both partners to be willingto evolve.

Core values must align for a relationship to thrive.

Focusing on what works in a relationship fosters positivity.

Communication must be safe and compassionate for effective engagement.

Differentiation is key to understanding and relating to apartner.

Chapters

00:00 Exploring Mindfulness: A Deep Dive

06:06 Mindfulness Red Flags

07:11 What Do The Feelings Want?

07:43 Mindfulness and Attachment Styles

09:02 Mindfulness as a Cognitive Strength

11:37 When It is Time to Leave a Relationship

15:22 Core Values and Relationship Compatibility

16:50 I Can Only Control Myself

19:32 Engagement in the Process: Detaching from Outcomes

20:50 Focus On What Works

Keywords

mindfulness, self-awareness, relationships, attachmentstyles, emotional intelligence, personal growth, communication, core values,emotional connection, therapy