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.
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- Attachment 6
- Attachment and Patterns 2
- Communication 5
- Communication and conflict 7
- Consensual Non Monogamy 2
- Couples therapy London 64
- Emotional Abuse 2
- Ethical Non Monogamy 2
- Infidelity & Betrayal 5
- Jealousy 3
- LGBT+ Therapy 19
- LGBTQ+ Couples 13
- Labels 3
- Mental Health and Wellbeing 19
- Money and Relationships 4
- Non-Monogamy and Open Relationships 1
- Parenting 3
- Polyamory 2
- Pre-Marital Therapy London 1
- Relationship Therapy London 1
- Relationship therapy London 62
- Separation and Divorce 7
- Sex and Intimacy 8
- Summer 4
- Trust and Repair 4
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.
Sex on Holiday: Why It Doesn't Always Live Up to Expectations
You expected the holiday to revive your sex life. It didn't. A London relationship therapist on why that's common, what's underneath it, and what helps.
Porn Addiction and Relationships: A Therapist's Guide
Porn addiction is a contested term, but the distress it names is real. A London relationship therapist on what helps couples and individuals work through the impact of porn use.
Why Do Couples Stop Having Sex? Understanding Low Libido in Relationships
A London relationship therapist explores why couples stop having sex, the emotional dynamics behind low libido, and how intimacy can be rebuilt over time.
How to Talk to Your Partner About Sex: Asking for What You Want
Talking about sex with your partner can feel daunting, but research shows it's one of the most powerful things couples can do. Relationship therapist Mark Ryan explains how to start the conversation.
When Your Sex Drives Don't Match: Understanding Desire Discrepancy in Relationships
Mismatched libidos affect up to 80% of couples at some point. Relationship therapist Mark Ryan explains what desire discrepancy really means, why it happens, and how couples therapy can help.
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.
Why Is It So Difficult to Talk About Sex and Desire in Relationships? And How Therapy Can Help
Talking about sex and desire in a relationship can feel awkward, even with the person you love most. Shame, fear of rejection, and silence often get in the way. As a couples therapist in London, I help partners open up, reconnect, and explore intimacy with honesty and care—because your desires matter, and so does your connection.