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 8
- Attachment and Patterns 2
- Communication 9
- Communication and conflict 9
- Consensual Non Monogamy 2
- Couples therapy London 107
- Emotional Abuse 4
- Ethical Non Monogamy 2
- Grief and Loss 1
- Individual therapy London 1
- Infidelity & Betrayal 7
- Jealousy 3
- LGBT+ Therapy 19
- LGBTQ+ Couples 13
- 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 103
- Resources 1
- Seasonal 1
- Separation and Divorce 10
- Sex and Intimacy 14
- Single Session Therapy 3
- Summer 4
- Therapy process 1
- Trust and Repair 9
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.
The Post-Christmas Blues
The Christmas season is often filled with joy, connection, and celebration. It’s a time when routines are set aside, indulgence is encouraged, and relationships take centre stage. But when January arrives, many people experience a stark emotional contrast; what is often referred to as the post-Christmas blues.