Skip to content

Written by Online therapist Dr. Gloria Vanderhorst, Ph.D.

Podcast: Born Connected

Why We Crave Connection

Connection is not optional, it’s part of our wiring. For individuals in Maryland and DC, this conversation explores why we seek closeness, how relationships shape us, and why connection remains essential throughout our lives.

Hi there,

I recently joined bLU Talks to talk about something we all feel but don’t always notice: our need to connect. From the very beginning, we are wired to reach out, to share, and to belong. We explored how memories and life experiences shape the way we relate to others, how our brains influence our emotions and bodies, and how connection continues to matter throughout our lives.

In this episode, we talk about:

  • Why connection drives growth and change
  • How we form friendships and relationships as adults
  • The ways our brains and bodies respond to emotional experiences
  • Simple ways to reflect, share, and foster meaningful connection

This conversation is a reminder that connection isn’t just a nice idea—it’s part of what makes life meaningful, and there’s always room to grow, heal, and reach out.

🎧 Listen to the full episode: Born Connected – bLU Talks

Want to explore more about connection and emotional well‑being? Visit Psychology Today’s insights on why humans need connection and Greater Good’s research on how connection shapes well‑being.

If this conversation sparks reflection about relationships, belonging, or emotional growth, therapy can help. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that support clarity, resilience, and deeper connection.

related blog post by Dr. Gloria Vanderhorst, Ph.D.

Read more of my stories and reflections

A woman sitting outside in fall thinking about her health, symbolizing emotional warmth and friendship in Maryland and DC.

Health

One Body, One Chance, Let’s Treat Get Your Health Right Health isn’t just a checklist, it’s a relationship with your body. For individuals in Maryland and DC, this reflection explores the excuses we make, the risks we take, and the simple truths that can lead to lasting change. When was
Read My Post
A journal and pen beside a warm mug, symbolizing end of the year reflection and emotional growth in Maryland and DC.

Growing | How Self‑Reflection Fuels Emotional Growth

How Self‑Reflection Helps Us Stretch Beyond Who We’ve Been and Helps Emotional Growth Are you growing? Not in height, most of us are headed in the opposite direction as the years go by, but in emotional depth, clarity, and self‑understanding. Are you growing? If you think I am talking about
Read My Post
Couple joined in gratitude having a a heart to heart about being a grandparent and parenting our parents, symbolizing emotional connection in Maryland and DC.

Parenting Our Parents | When Roles Reverse and Care Comes Full Circle

When We Start Parenting Our Parents, Is When the Circle of Care Turns Back Toward Us There is a moment in many adults’ lives when the roles quietly reverse. The people who once cared for us now need our care, and the emotional weight of that shift is profound. I
Read My Post
Cozy night setting during ice storm after sledding, symbolizing nighttime safety with snowflakes outside, vulnerability, and emotional impact in Maryland and DC.

Sledding

Snow, Speed, Sledding, and the Memories That Stay With Us Winter has a way of pulling us back into childhood. For individuals in Maryland and DC, this reflection celebrates the thrill of sledding, the joy of shared moments, and the timeless magic of snow‑covered hills. “Rosebud.” Does that ring a
Read My Post