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.
When Therapy Doesn’t Work (Yet): Understanding Setbacks, Stuck Points, and the Hope Ahead
Psychotherapy can be an extraordinary space for healing, growth, and insight. For many, it offers relief, clarity, and renewed strength. But what happens when therapy doesn’t seem to work? What if you feel stuck, disappointed, or even more confused than when you began?
This experience can feel disheartening and isolating—but it’s far more common than we often talk about. Importantly, a lack of immediate success in therapy doesn’t mean therapy is inherently flawed, or that you are. It may mean the timing isn’t quite right, the approach needs adjusting, or something vital has yet to fall into place. Therapy is not a one-size-fits-all process. And just because it hasn’t worked yet, doesn’t mean it won’t work—or that it can’t work beautifully, when the conditions are right.