Relationship advice & insights.
I'm Mark Ryan, a BACP Accredited Psychotherapist and NCPS Accredited Relationship Therapist working with relationships, couples, individuals, and polycules across London. This is where I write about the things that come up most often in the therapy room; jealousy, coming out to a partner, separation, sex and intimacy, and 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.
Browse the archive.
Search by keyword, or filter by topic, to find the article you're looking for or browse the newest articles blelow.
- Attachment 8
- Attachment and Patterns 2
- Communication 9
- Communication and conflict 10
- Consensual Non Monogamy 2
- Couples therapy London 110
- Emotional Abuse 4
- Ethical Non Monogamy 2
- Grief and Loss 1
- Individual therapy London 1
- Infidelity & Betrayal 7
- Jealousy 3
- LGBTQIA Couples 13
- LGBTQIA Therapy 19
- Labels 4
- Mental Health and Wellbeing 20
- Money and Relationships 4
- Neurodiversity and Relationships 6
- Non-Monogamy and Open Relationships 7
- Online Therapy 1
- Parenting 8
- Polyamory 2
- Pre-Marital Therapy London 1
- Relationship Therapy London 2
- Relationship therapy London 106
- Resources 1
- Seasonal 4
- Separation and Divorce 11
- Sex and Intimacy 14
- Single Session Therapy 3
- Summer 4
- Therapy process 1
- Trust and Repair 9
Telling My Partner I'm Trans
Working out how and when to tell your partner you're trans. A London couples therapist on timing, handling their reaction, and what helps early on.
My Partner Is Transitioning: What It Means for Your Relationship
Your partner has come out as trans. A London couples therapist on what changes, what the grief means, and how to work out if you're still compatible.
Lesbian Bed Death Isn't Real, and Here's Why
Research doesn't support the lesbian bed death myth. A London relationship therapist on what's going on in couples experiencing declining sexual frequency.
Lesbian Couples Therapy and What to Expect
A London relationship therapist on lesbian couples therapy, what tends to show up in the room, and why your problems aren't automatically about being lesbian.
Mixed-Orientation Relationships and How Couples Stay Together
A London relationship therapist on mixed-orientation relationships after a partner comes out, what tends to change, and why staying together isn't settling.
Bisexual Erasure in Relationships and Why It Happens
A London relationship therapist on bisexual erasure in relationships, how it shows up differently for men and women, and what making real space looks like.
Am I Bisexual? What It Means and What Happens Next
A London relationship therapist on working out whether you're bisexual, what the research says, and what it means if this comes up inside a relationship.
Coming Out to Your Partner
A London relationship therapist on coming out to your partner, what tends to happen next, and why it doesn't automatically mean the relationship is over.
Am I Heteroflexible? Questioning Your Straightness and What It Means for Your Relationship
A London relationship therapist on what heteroflexible means, how common it is, and how partners can talk about it with openness and care.
Is My Partner Gay? My Partner Is Questioning Their Sexuality
A London relationship therapist unpacks what it can feel like for the partner of someone questioning their sexuality, what it does and doesn't mean, why the silence happens, and what helps.
Am I Gay? Questioning Your Sexuality While in a Relationship
A London relationship therapist on noticing same-sex attraction while partnered, what it might mean, why you don't need an answer yet, and how therapy can help.
Gay Couples Therapy in London: Finding the Right Support for Your Relationship
Looking for gay couples therapy in London? Relationship therapist Mark Ryan explores the real challenges gay couples face, what to look for in an affirming therapist, and how therapy can genuinely help.
After Betrayal: How Couples Can Heal from Infidelity and Rebuild Trust
If your relationship has been rocked by infidelity, you need honest guidance. A BACP Accredited London therapist on what recovery actually involves.
Is Our Sex Life Normal? Understanding Sexual Desire and Intimacy in Relationships
Many couples carry a quiet anxiety about their sex life — wondering if what they have is "normal," but never quite finding the words to ask. This article explores why there is no universal benchmark for sexual desire, how the erotic and companionship dimensions of a relationship work differently, and what it means when desire shifts over time. An honest, shame-free introduction to one of the most important — and least spoken about — areas of relationship life.
Repair After a Fight: A Step-by-Step Guide to Rebuilding Safety and Trust
Conflict is inevitable in close relationships — but disconnection doesn’t have to be. This practical, step-by-step guide explores how couples can repair after a fight, rebuild emotional safety, and restore trust through intentional communication and empathy. Learn why repair matters more than being right, and how therapy can provide powerful tools to break negative cycles and strengthen long-term connection.
Surviving Christmas Without Falling Out
Christmas can place unexpected strain on even the strongest relationships. Heightened expectations, family pressures, and emotional fatigue often mean conflict feels closer to the surface. This article explores why tensions rise at this time of year, how couples can navigate disagreements more gently, and when relationship therapy might help.
When One Partner Withdraws. Understanding Stonewalling and Emotional Shutdowns
A thoughtful look at what’s really happening when a partner shuts down, and how couples can move from disconnection to deeper understanding and repair.
Blame in Relationships: Why We Do It, How It Hurts, and What Therapy Can Offer
Blame can erode connection. Discover why it happens and how therapy can help couples reconnect.
What to Expect from Couples Therapy: A Realistic Guide from a London Therapist
What does couples therapy actually involve? A London relationship therapist explains the assessment, the working phase, the ending, how long it takes, and what real progress looks like.