In this episode of Clear Minds In Color, we dive into the psychology of attachment and autonomy in relationships.

When we move in with someone, it’s easy to slip into routines that start to feel like marriage — without realizing how those unspoken expectations affect our communication, individuality, and emotional balance.

Through real examples, trauma-informed insight, and the latest relationship research, we’ll explore how codependency develops, how we can communicate without shutting each other down, and why space isn’t distance — it’s the oxygen that keeps love alive.

This conversation helps us understand the difference between closeness and control, teaches us how to set healthy emotional boundaries, and reminds us that love grows best when both people stay whole.

Hosted by: Robert Saint Michael, NLP | Mental Health Coach

Presented by: Clear Minds In Color — providing evidence-based mental-health strategies and public-health interventions that promote healthy mental hygiene and resilient communities.

Learn more: clearmindsincolor.com

Referenced in This Episode

• Journal of Marriage and Family (2023) – University of Denver Center for Marital and Family Studies: Cohabitation and Relationship Inertia — findings on communication and emotional disengagement in early cohabitation.

• Amir Levine & Rachel Heller – Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find—and Keep—Love — foundational work on attachment styles and relationship anxiety.

• Harvard Business Review (2022) – The Hidden Forms of Power in the Workplace — research on emotional leverage and control dynamics.

• APA Division 43: Society for Couple and Family Psychology – Codependency and Relationship Dynamics — defining patterns of dependence and autonomy in romantic relationships.

• Clear Minds In Color – clearmindsincolor.com — evidence-based tools for communication, self-awareness, and emotional regulation.