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.
Why Heatwaves Make You Argue With Your Partner
You’re not imagining it, and it’s not just you. Heat does something real to mood, patience, and conflict. A London couples therapist on what’s happening and what to do about it.
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.
When Summer Exposes the Cracks: What to Do With What Comes Up
A difficult summer can surface things you had been managing not to see. A London relationship therapist on how to use post-summer clarity well.
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.
Surviving the School Holidays as a Couple: Why Six Weeks Together Is Harder Than It Looks
Six weeks of school holidays is a stress test most couples don't expect. A London relationship therapist on why it strains things, and what helps.