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 10
- Communication and conflict 20
- Couples therapy London 111
- Emotional Abuse 4
- Individual therapy London 2
- Infidelity & Betrayal 7
- Jealousy 3
- LGBTQIA Therapy 20
- Labels 4
- Mental Health and Wellbeing 20
- Money and Relationships 3
- Neurodiversity and Relationships 6
- Non-Monogamy and Open Relationships 9
- Parenting 9
- Relationship therapy London 109
- Seasonal 5
- Separation and Divorce 14
- Sex and Intimacy 14
- Single Session Therapy 3
- Summer 4
- Trust and Repair 9
Christmas Depression and Your Relationship
A London relationship therapist on why Christmas can bring low mood into a relationship, how it looks from both sides, and what helps you both through it.
Trying to Conceive and Supporting Each Other Through Uncertainty
The monthly cycle of hope and disappointment before any diagnosis or treatment, what research shows about couples trying to conceive, and how to support each other through it.
IVF and Your Relationship: What Couples Wish They'd Known
How IVF strains a relationship, what research shows about blame, sex and coping, and what helps.
Fertility Struggles and Their Impact on a Relationship
Why trying to conceive can put more strain on a relationship than almost anything else, what the research shows, and what tends to help.
Postpartum Depression and Relationships: Why Partner Support Matters So Much
What the research shows about partner support and postpartum depression, and why the support new mothers receive so often falls short.
Rejection Sensitivity in ADHD: Why Feedback Can Feel Like an Attack
Why ordinary feedback can land as a devastating personal attack for a partner with ADHD, what the research shows, and what helps.
Miscarriage and Baby Loss: Supporting Each Other Through Grief
Why partners often grieve a miscarriage or baby loss differently, and what tends to help a couple stay connected through it rather than grow apart.
Polyamory and Mental Health: What the Research Shows
Why polyamorous people report higher rates of depression and anxiety, and why the research points to stigma rather than the relationship structure itself.
Sex Addiction. What the Term Means and What Helps
What sex addiction describes, why a high sex drive isn't the same thing, and what tends to help when compulsive sexual behaviour is affecting a relationship.
Avoidant Attachment in Relationships: Dating, Hard Conversations, and Conflict
How avoidant attachment shows up, in who you're drawn to, hard conversations, and arguments. A London relationship therapist explains, with practical next steps.
Anxious Attachment in Relationships: Dating, Hard Conversations, and Conflict
How anxious attachment shows up, in who you're drawn to, hard conversations, and arguments. A London relationship therapist explains, with practical next steps.
Why Is My Partner So Jealous? Living With a Jealous Partner
For the partner on the receiving end of jealousy: what is driving it, why your reassurance never settles it, what it is costing you, and what you can change.
Why Am I So Jealous? Understanding Jealousy in Relationships
A London relationship therapist on what jealousy does inside a couple, why reassurance and checking make it worse, and when the feeling is telling you the truth.
Should I go to therapy? A Self-Assessment Guide
Wondering if therapy is right for you? This supportive self-assessment guide explores the signs you may benefit from counselling, when it might not be the best option, and how to decide if therapy is the right step for you now.
The Sunday Scaries: Why We Feel Them and How Therapy Can Help
Explore the psychology behind the “Sunday scaries,” practical strategies to ease anxiety before the week ahead, and how therapy can support lasting change for those struggling with chronic Sunday night dread.
Men’s Mental Health: How Masculinity Shapes Emotional Wellbeing
Men’s mental health is often overlooked, yet societal expectations of masculinity can leave many men struggling in silence. From the pressure to “man up” to the lack of emotional education, men are often taught to suppress their feelings rather than seek support. Therapy offers a safe, non-judgmental space to explore these challenges, build emotional awareness, and redefine what strength truly means.
Meeting the Inner Child.
Many of our adult struggles, like anxiety, low self-worth, or difficulty with relationships, can trace their roots back to unmet needs from childhood. The concept of the inner child helps us understand how early emotional wounds continue to shape our daily lives. In this article, a London therapist explains what it means to reconnect with your inner child, how it shows up in everyday patterns, and how therapy can offer healing, safety, and transformation.
Always On: Reclaiming Your Mental Health from Phones and Social Media
In a world of constant pings and endless scrolling, our relationship with phones and social media is reshaping how we think, feel, and connect. This post explores the impact of digital habits on mental health, sleep, anxiety, and relationship intimacy—drawing from therapeutic insight at Rise and Grow Therapy. Whether you’re feeling overstimulated, disconnected from your partner, or simply tired of being “always on,” this guide offers practical strategies to help you reclaim your attention and build a healthier, more intentional relationship with technology.
Sadness or Depression? Understanding the Difference and When to Seek Support
Sadness is a universal human emotion. It touches all of us at various points in our lives, often as a natural response to loss, disappointment, or transition. Depression, on the other hand, is a mental health condition that extends beyond the realm of typical emotional experience. Yet, it’s not always easy to tell where one ends and the other begins. In a world where emotional language is increasingly used with openness, many people are left wondering: Am I just sad, or am I depressed?
This article aims to offer clarity on the difference between sadness and depression, explore how they show up in the body and mind, and provide guidance on when it’s time to seek professional support. Whether you’re trying to understand your own emotional state or support someone close to you, this is a compassionate space to explore these vital distinctions.
A Compassionate Guide to Dealing with Rejection
Rejection is an unavoidable part of life. Whether it’s a job application, a relationship, a creative endeavour, or even a social invitation, being told “no” or feeling excluded can sting deeply. For many of us, the natural response is to internalize rejection—to see it as a reflection of our worth, ability, or likability. However, learning to experience rejection without taking it personally is not only possible but incredibly freeing.