I'm Mark Ryan, a BACP Accredited Psychotherapist and NCPS Accredited Relationship Therapist working with couples, individuals, and polycules across London. This is where I write about the things that come up most often in the room. Jealousy. Coming out to a partner. Separation. Sex and intimacy. The ordinary arguments that usually aren't about what they first appear to be about.
Some of what's here is written for couples working through something together. Some of it is for one person trying to make sense of their own experience before bringing a partner into it. All of it is grounded in research and real clinical practice, not generic advice dressed up as insight.
Below, everything is grouped by topic if you're looking for something specific, or simply scroll through what's most recent. And if something here resonates, or you'd like support with what you're going through, I offer a free 30-minute consultation, in person in London or by video.
Why Do I Feel Lonely in My Relationship?
You're not imagining it, and you're not the only one. A London couples therapist on why loneliness inside a relationship is real, common, and different from being alone.
Why Heatwaves Make You Argue With Your Partner
You’re not imagining it, and it’s not just you. Heat does something real to mood, patience, and conflict. A London couples therapist on what’s happening and what to do about it.
Long-Distance Relationships Through Summer
Summer can strain a long-distance relationship in ways that feel disproportionate to what's actually happening. A London couples therapist on why, and what tends to help.
Can a Trial Separation Save a Relationship? The Case For and Against
Weighing up a trial separation? A London couples therapist sets out the genuine case for and against, what the research actually shows, and how therapy can help either way.
When One Partner Wants to Travel and the Other Doesn't
When travel becomes a recurring source of tension between you and your partner, the disagreement is rarely really about the trip. A London couples therapist explains what's underneath it.