Intimacy Begins With Self-Connection w/ Elenor Daneshvar, Psy.D.

Intimacy doesn’t start with another person, it begins with how connected you are to yourself.

In this episode of The Moon Collective Sanctuary Podcast, Dr. Lydia Luna, Ph.D. sits down with Dr. Elenor Daneshvar, Licensed Clinical Psychologist and trauma-informed therapist, for a powerful conversation about intimacy, embodiment, and healing from the inside out.

Together, they explore how intimacy begins through self-connection, emotional awareness, and learning how to feel safe in your own body. Elenor shares how living in our heads, negative self-talk, and unresolved trauma quietly block our ability to experience closeness, pleasure, and authentic connection with others.

This episode also dives into the role of mindfulness, breathwork, and body awareness as tools for reconnecting with yourself. From navigating shame and body image to understanding why so many people feel sexually disconnected, this conversation blends clinical expertise with real-world insight into how intimacy and connection actually work.

If you’ve ever felt numb, disconnected, or stuck in patterns of resentment or self-criticism, this episode offers a grounded look at how reconnecting with your body can rebuild intimacy from the inside out.

Visit mooncollectivesanctuary.com to explore our upcoming gatherings and private healing offerings.

Connect with Dr. Lydia Luna:
Website: www.mooncollectivesanctuary.com
IG: @lydialunaphd & @mooncollectivesanctuary
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mooncollectivesanctuary

Connect with Dr. Elenor Daneshvar:
Website: https://oneneuro.com/elenorbdaneshvar/
Instagram: @womens_mental_health
LinkedIn:   / elenor-daneshvar-psy-d-330ba414  

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Chapter Markers:

01:00 Elenor’s Journey Into Psychology
03:30 What Intimacy Really Means
05:40 Why We Live in Our Heads
07:45 Reconnecting With the Body
09:00 Trauma, Shame, and Self-Image
12:30 The Mirror Exercise & Self-Compassion
15:00 Mindfulness, Breathwork & Embodiment
18:30 Motherhood, Depletion & Resentment
21:00 Energy, Presence & Emotional Safety
25:00 Sexual Disconnection & Numbness
27:00 Pleasure, Permission & Healing
30:40 Intimacy as the Foundation for Sex