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 7
- Attachment and Patterns 2
- Communication 5
- Communication and conflict 7
- Consensual Non Monogamy 2
- Couples therapy London 66
- Emotional Abuse 3
- Ethical Non Monogamy 2
- Infidelity & Betrayal 5
- Jealousy 3
- LGBT+ Therapy 19
- LGBTQ+ Couples 13
- Labels 4
- Mental Health and Wellbeing 19
- Money and Relationships 4
- Non-Monogamy and Open Relationships 1
- Parenting 3
- Polyamory 2
- Pre-Marital Therapy London 1
- Relationship Therapy London 1
- Relationship therapy London 64
- Separation and Divorce 7
- Sex and Intimacy 8
- Summer 4
- Trust and Repair 4
Blame in Relationships: Why We Do It, How It Hurts, and What Therapy Can Offer
Blame can erode connection. Discover why it happens and how therapy can help couples reconnect.
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.
Why Is It So Difficult to Talk About Sex and Desire in Relationships? And How Therapy Can Help
Talking about sex and desire in a relationship can feel awkward, even with the person you love most. Shame, fear of rejection, and silence often get in the way. As a couples therapist in London, I help partners open up, reconnect, and explore intimacy with honesty and care—because your desires matter, and so does your connection.
What to Expect from Couples Therapy: A Realistic Guide from a London Therapist
What does couples therapy actually involve? A London relationship therapist explains the assessment, the working phase, the ending, how long it takes, and what real progress looks like.
Why Do I Keep Ending Up in the Same Relationship? The Hidden Logic of Partner Choice
Different partners, same pattern? A London couples therapist explains the research on unconscious partner choice, the childhood blueprint behind it, and how the cycle can be broken.
Why Some Couples Experience More Relationship Problems In Winter Months – And How Therapy Can Help
Winter can be a beautiful time of year—cozy evenings, twinkling lights, celebrations, and the promise of a fresh start with the new year. However, for some couples, the colder months bring more than just frosty mornings; they also bring tension, disconnection, fights and conflict.
If you’ve found yourself arguing more, feeling distant from your partner, or struggling with low energy in your relationship, you’re not alone. Many couples experience an increase in conflict during winter, and the reasons go deeper than just the change in weather.
Let’s explore why couples tend to struggle in winter and, more importantly, how therapy can help strengthen your relationship during these difficult months.