Hidden Keys of Intimacy That Deepen Connection w/ Elenor Daneshvar, Psy.D.

Intimacy doesn’t disappear overnight, it erodes quietly through unspoken resentment, emotional overload, and forgotten play.

In this episode of The Moon Collective Sanctuary Podcast, host Dr. Lydia Luna, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist and founder of The Moon Collective Sanctuary, welcomes Dr. Elenor Daneshvar back to the podcast for a deep, honest conversation about the hidden keys of intimacy, play, partnership, and pleasure.

Together, they explore why intimacy is rarely about what happens in the bedroom and far more about what happens throughout the day. From emotional repair after rupture to the invisible labor many women carry, this conversation sheds light on why desire often fades and how it can be restored.

Elenor and Lydia break down how resentment, emotional disconnection, and rigid routines quietly extinguish intimacy, and why curiosity, novelty, and shared joy are essential for deepening long-term connection. The conversation also examines the role of partnership, “we” language, and emotional investment as foundations for pleasure.

The episode also reframes foreplay as an all-day experience shaped by emotional safety, presence, and energetic connection, rather than something confined to the bedroom.

This episode is an invitation to rethink intimacy as a sacred, living energy that thrives on repair, presence, and intentional connection, not performance or pressure.

To Watch the Show click HERE 

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

Connect with Elenor

Website: https://oneneuro.com/elenorbdaneshvar/

Instagram: @womens_mental_health

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenor-daneshvar-psy-d-330ba414/

Chapter Markers

01:10 What intimacy really means (beyond sex)

03:10 Why intimacy fades over time
06:35 Resentment, rupture, and unspoken disconnection
08:05 Repair as the key to deeper connection

10:20 “I see you”: validation and emotional repair
12:15 When repair strengthens vs. weakens relationships
14:55 When to work through rupture vs. when to leave

18:55 Why play and novelty are essential for intimacy
22:45 Shared experiences and creating freshness together

26:40 Partnership, “we” language, and alignment
28:40 Invisible emotional labor and why women feel depleted
31:05 Emotional investment as a foundation for desire

33:15 Flirting as a daily practice
35:30 Energy, safety, and the sacral connection
38:10 Foreplay as an all-day experience
40:15 Creating intimacy through presence, not pressure

Support the show

Connect with Dr. Lydia Luna, PhD:

Website: www.mooncollectivesanctuary.com

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@mooncollectivesanctuary

IG: @lydialunaphd & @mooncollectivesanctuary

Facebook: www.facebook.com/mooncollectivesanctuary