Brave Love, Great Sex: Harnessing Attachment Theory for Passionate Relationships

by Laurie Watson, George Faller

Discover how attachment strategies affect sexual intimacy – and dial up your relationship

Does great sex always fade over time? Good Research says otherwise! Securely attached couples have the most frequent sex—in the greatest variety, with the least inhibition. But as most couples know, this level of intimacy requires communication, vulnerability, and trust.

Through their popular podcast and private practices, sex therapist/couples therapist, Laurie Watson and couples therapist, trainer George Faller have helped thousands of couples restore their relationships, in and out of the bedroom. In Brave Love, Great Sex, they reveal how to strengthen both emotional and sexual connections, leading to deeper intimacy and lasting fulfillment.

With research-based advice and relatable examples, they show us how

Identify Negative Recognize your sexual and emotional attachment patternsReplace Protective Learn how to turn fight or flight dynamics into bonding momentsShift Move from blame to understanding and shared empathyEnhance Sexual Improve discussions around specific turn-ons and turn-offs to increase levels of engagementFoster True Learn how intimacy creates safety and joy in sexual exploration.
This illuminating guide will help couples who are struggling with intimacy issues, as well as those who simply want to dial up their connection, ensuring a vibrant, secure, and lasting bond that is both emotionally intimate and sexually erotic.

320 pages, Hardcover

Published September 15, 2026

About the author

Laurie Watson, author of Wanting Sex Again is an AASECT certified sex therapist and licensed couple’s therapist. Popular speaker, media personality, and educator, she lectures at Duke University's and UNC Chapel Hill's medical schools on sexuality, intimacy and relationships. After being in practice for over 23 years, she’s the clinical director for Awakenings – Center for Intimacy and Sexuality in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Press kit, couples' retreats, media appearances, interviews, lecture requests, appointments and Skype counseling are all handled through her official website.

Reviews

[Reetu DeLeon]

As a couples therapist who works from an attachment lens, I found so much to appreciate in this book. It gets to the heart of what couples often miss: the attunement and connection we create outside the bedroom are what make deeper intimacy possible inside it.

Laurie Watson and George Faller do not treat sex as an isolated problem to solve or a set of techniques to master. Instead, they help couples understand the attachment needs, fears, and protective patterns underneath their sexual dynamic. Their approach is compassionate, accessible, and practical without oversimplifying something deeply personal.

This is a valuable read for couples who want to better understand one another, and for therapists who want to help couples talk about sex with more openness, safety, and connection.