So Happy Together Podcast

Elizabeth (Ellie) Pickens
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Biweekly

Hi, I’m Elizabeth (Ellie) Pickens, a Licensed Master Social Worker and host of So Happy Together. After my own messy and painful relationships, I set out to rebuild my confidence, rediscover my worth, and understand the realities of modern dating. This podcast brings you real-life lessons and evidence-based practices on boundaries, self-love, and healthy connections — so you can explore love without losing yourself.

Episodes

  1. May 18

    Episode 8: Sex in Modern Dating: The Trauma We Don't Talk About in Dating

    During this episode, I’m opening up about trauma, consent, survival responses, and the lasting impact sexual trauma can have on the nervous system, intimacy, self-worth, and relationships. I’ll be sharing parts of my own lived experience with sexual abuse within a relationship, while also talking about the ways trauma can shape emotional safety, attachment, boundaries, and the way we experience connection long after the experience itself has ended. We’ll also discuss common misconceptions surrounding sexual abuse, relationship-based trauma, freeze and fawn responses, shame, self-blame, and why healing is about so much more than simply “moving on.” My hope for this conversation is to create understanding, reduce shame, and remind survivors that their responses were never weakness — they were survival. Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions surrounding sexual trauma, abuse, coercion, consent, and sensitive emotional content. Please listen with care and prioritize your well-being while engaging with this episode. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence or relationship abuse, support is available. ​ RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): 1-800-656-HOPE or rainn.org​ Love Is Respect: Call 1-866-331-9474 or text LOVEIS to 22522 You deserve support, safety, and healing. If this episode resonates with you, please follow, rate, and share the podcast to help these conversations reach others who may need them. Follow along on Instagram & TikTok: @sohappytogetherpodcast

    39 min

  2. May 2

    Episode 7: Therapy for Love Series: Closing the Gap

    You understand your patterns.You can name your triggers.You know what you should be doing differently… So why does nothing actually change? In this final episode of the Therapy for Love Series, we’re talking about the gap between awareness and action—and why insight alone isn’t enough to shift the way you show up in your relationships. Because healing isn’t just about knowing better.It’s about choosing differently in the moments that matter. In this episode, we break down: Why awareness without action keeps you stuckHow insight-based, body-based, and skills-based therapies work togetherWhat it actually looks like to pause instead of reactHow to start responding differently—even when it feels uncomfortable or unfamiliarWhy real change happens through practice, not perfectionIf you’ve ever felt like you’re doing the work but not seeing change, this episode will help you understand why—and what to do next. This is about closing the gap between what you know and how you show up. 🎧 So Happy Together Podcast is where we unmask modern dating and relationships—through honest conversations, clinical insight, and real-life application. If this episode resonated with you, follow the podcast on Spotify and share it with someone who’s ready to start showing up differently in their relationships. Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy.

    40 min

  3. Apr 17

    Episode 6: Therapy for Love Series: Healing Relationship Patterns Through Somatic Therapy with Expert and LMFT, Chloe Bean

    What if your dating patterns aren’t just “bad habits”… but body-based responses shaped by your past? In this episode of So Happy Together, I’m joined by Chloe Bean—licensed marriage and family therapist and somatic therapy expert—to explore how your nervous system quietly shapes the way you show up in love. We’re diving into what somatic therapy actually is, how trauma and past relationship experiences live in the body, and why so many people mistake emotional activation for chemistry. If you’ve ever found yourself pulled toward inconsistency, feeling anxious in dating, or unsure how to trust “safe” connections—this conversation will connect the dots. Together, we unpack: How your body responds to perceived safety vs. threat in dating Why anxiety can feel like attraction What people-pleasing looks like in the nervous system How to tell the difference between true incompatibility and a triggered nervous system response What a regulated, secure relationship actually feels like in your body Practical ways to start reconnecting with yourself and building safety from withinThis episode is for anyone who’s tired of repeating the same patterns and ready to understand their relationships on a deeper, more embodied level. Because healing in love isn’t just about what you think—it’s about what your body has learned to expect. 🎧 Listen now and start showing up differently in your relationships. Follow So Happy Together on Spotify and connect with us on Instagram & TikTok @sohappytogetherpodcast for more therapy-informed insights on dating, attachment, and healing. And be sure to follow Chloe Bean on Instagram @chloebeantherapy for more somatic-based tools and insights on healing your nervous system and relationships.

    48 min

  4. Apr 3

    Episode 5: Your Relationship Isn't the Problem: You Are (And That's the Good News)

    What if the problem isn’t just who you’re dating… but how you’re showing up in relationships? In this episode, we’re starting a brand new series: Therapy for Love — where we break down how different types of therapy can actually transform the way you love, communicate, and connect. Because therapy isn’t just about talking about your past — it’s about changing the patterns that keep showing up in your relationships. In this episode, we explore three core approaches to therapy: Insight-based therapy — understanding why you do what you doBody-based therapy — learning how your nervous system holds onto relationship experiencesSkills-based therapy — building real tools for communication, boundaries, and emotional regulationIf you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “Why do I keep ending up in the same kind of relationship?” or “Why do I react this way even when I know better?” This episode is for you. We’re breaking down how therapy helps you: Recognize your patterns without shameRegulate your emotions in real-timeBuild healthier, more secure relationshipsThis is where awareness turns into change. And in the next episode, I’ll be joined by a special guest who specializes in trauma and somatic therapy — so make sure you’re following along. Follow “So Happy Together Podcast” on Spotify so you don’t miss what’s coming next, and connect with me on Instagram & TikTok @sohappytogetherpodcast for more relationship insights. Because you deserve a love that feels safe, secure, and aligned — and it starts with you.

    22 min

  5. Mar 20

    Episode 4: The Road To Secure Attachment: You're Aware. Now What?

    Awareness is powerful… but it’s not the same as change. In this episode, we’re taking the next step beyond simply knowing your attachment style and diving into what it actually looks like to begin moving toward earned secure attachment. Because recognizing your patterns is just the beginning—the real work is learning how to respond differently in real time. We’ll talk about: Why awareness alone doesn’t shift your attachment patterns How triggers show up in your relationships The difference between reaction vs. intentional response Grounding tools to regulate your nervous system in moments of distress How to start building safety within yourself—not just seeking it from others If you’ve ever thought, “I know I’m anxious (or avoidant)… but I still react the same way,” this episode is for you. Healing isn’t about becoming perfect in relationships—it’s about becoming more aware, more regulated, and more intentional over time. Follow @sohappytogetherpodcast for more on modern dating, boundaries, and attachment New episodes released biweekly

    32 min
  6. Episode 3: Why You Date the Way You Do: The Origins of Attachment Styles

    Mar 6

    Episode 3: Why You Date the Way You Do: The Origins of Attachment Styles

    Why You Date the Way You Do: The Origins of Attachment Styles Why does dating feel so triggering sometimes? Why do some people crave closeness, while others pull away the moment things get real? In this episode of So Happy Together, we’re diving into why you date the way you do—through the lens of attachment theory. We’ll explore how your earliest relationships shaped your nervous system, your expectations of love, and the patterns that keep showing up in adulthood. We’ll break down: ​Where attachment styles come from and how they form ​Secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized attachment—what they look like in real relationships ​How your nervous system responds to intimacy, conflict, and uncertainty ​Why certain relationship dynamics feel familiar (even when they’re painful) ​How understanding your attachment style can help you date with more clarity, boundaries, and self-trust This episode isn’t about labeling yourself or anyone else. It’s about giving language to what you feel, understanding your reactions with compassion, and learning how to move toward healthier, more secure connections. If you’ve ever thought, “Why do I keep ending up here?”—this episode is for you. 🎧 New episodes of So Happy Together drop biweekly.💛 Education, real talk, and nervous-system-informed dating—without shame or “just leave them” energy. Thanks for listening, Ellie 💛

    29 min
  7. Episode 1: Why I Started So Happy Together: My Personal Journey Through Relationships and Healing

    Feb 19

    Episode 1: Why I Started So Happy Together: My Personal Journey Through Relationships and Healing

    So Happy Together didn’t start as a podcast—it started as a question: Why do relationships feel so hard, even when we want them so badly? In this first episode, I’m sharing the personal experiences that led me here—my own relationship patterns, moments of confusion and heartbreak, and the deeper work that helped me understand why I loved the way I did. We’ll talk about attachment, boundaries, emotional safety, and how our past quietly shapes our present connections. This episode isn’t about blaming yourself or anyone else. It’s about curiosity, compassion, and learning how to build relationships that feel more secure, honest, and aligned. If you’ve ever wondered why you keep showing up the same way in relationships—or why certain dynamics feel familiar even when they hurt—this conversation is for you. Welcome to So Happy Together. 💛 New episodes biweekly 🎧 Thanks for listening, Ellie 💛

    24 min
  8. Episode 2: Love Without Losing Yourself: The Boundary Skills No One Taught Us

    Feb 19

    Episode 2: Love Without Losing Yourself: The Boundary Skills No One Taught Us

    Boundaries aren’t walls — they’re what make healthy, secure love possible. In this episode of So Happy Together, we explores why boundaries are essential for emotional safety, self-respect, and lasting connection. Through attachment-informed insight and real-life dating experiences, this conversation breaks down how missing boundaries lead to over-giving, anxiety, and resentment — and how learning to set them can transform the way you relate to others. If you’ve ever struggled to say no, feared being “too much,” or worried that boundaries might push people away, this episode reframes boundaries as an act of care — not rejection. 🎧 New episodes biweekly 💛 Follow @SoHappyTogetherPodcast on Instagram and TikTok for real conversations on Modern Dating and Relationships Thanks for listening, Ellie 💛

    34 min
  • 8 Episodes

About

Hi, I’m Elizabeth (Ellie) Pickens, a Licensed Master Social Worker and host of So Happy Together. After my own messy and painful relationships, I set out to rebuild my confidence, rediscover my worth, and understand the realities of modern dating. This podcast brings you real-life lessons and evidence-based practices on boundaries, self-love, and healthy connections — so you can explore love without losing yourself.

Information

  • Creator
    Elizabeth (Ellie) Pickens
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Elizabeth (Ellie) Pickens
  • Show Website
    So Happy Together Podcast