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.
The Summer Slump: When the Relationship Feels Flat in Long Days
Long summer evenings can expose a flatness in a relationship that the rest of the year hides. A London therapist on what flatness means, and what it doesn't.
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.
Summer and Infidelity: What the Research Actually Says
Online claims about summer affairs are often overstated. A London relationship therapist on what the research really shows, and what it does and doesn't mean.
When You Realise You Have Nothing Left to Say to Each Other
Long silences with your partner can feel terminal, but they rarely are. A London relationship therapist on what conversational drift actually means.
Why Couples Argue More on Holiday (and What to Do About It)
Holidays expose what everyday life hides. A London relationship therapist on why couples argue more on holiday, what's underneath it, and what helps.
If You Don't Want Couples Therapy: An Honest Guide for the Sceptic
If your partner wants couples therapy and you don't, you are not unusual. A London relationship therapist on what to actually expect, for the sceptic.
What to Do When Your Partner Won't Go to Couples Therapy
Partner reluctant about couples therapy? A London relationship therapist on what helps, what doesn't, and what to read together before deciding.