What's Love got To Do with It?

Empty Nest: Rediscovering Your Relationship After the Kids Have Grown

Apr 20, 2025

 

Hi there,
If you're reading this, chances are life feels a little different lately. The house is quieter. Dinner for two has replaced the chaos of family meals. And the roles you’ve held for decades—mum, dad, taxi driver, cheer squad, organiser of everything—have shifted overnight.

You’ve done your job beautifully. You’ve raised children, launched them into the world, and now... it’s just the two of you again.
But what happens when that silence starts to feel louder than you expected?

The Hidden Toll of the Empty Nest

For many couples, the empty nest brings a mix of emotions—relief, pride, freedom… but also grief, loneliness, and uncertainty.
You might be asking:

  • Who are we now, without the kids?

  • Why does it feel like we’re just roommates sharing a house?

  • Why don’t we talk—or touch—like we used to?

The truth is, this stage of life is one of the biggest relationship transitions we go through. Without the day-to-day distractions of parenting, what’s left is just th...

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Feeling Tempted to Cheat? How to Handle It Without Regret

Feb 27, 2025

Affairs & Temptation: What to Do Before You Cross the Line

If you’re finding yourself drawn to someone outside your relationship, this message is for you.

I want to acknowledge the complexity of the situation you’re in. It’s possible you’re feeling unseen, unheard, and neglected within your current relationship. Loneliness and the ache of feeling unloved can be overwhelming, and those feelings can sometimes leave us vulnerable to seeking solace elsewhere.

Perhaps the connection you once shared with your partner has faded, leaving a painful void. Maybe responsibilities and commitments feel like chains, keeping you in a relationship where you feel trapped. Criticism, unmet needs, or a sense of inadequacy may have worn down your self-esteem, amplifying the hurt and rejection.

It’s in this vulnerable space that the allure of a new connection can feel so powerful.

The Appeal of a New Connection

When someone outside your relationship begins to make you feel seen, heard, and valued agai...

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How My Partner and I Rekindled Our Love

Feb 02, 2025

I'm a relationship therapist who experienced a separation. The question I am asked the most is "How did you save your own marriage?" Here's my honest answer....

This year will be 32 years since we first fell in love. It feels surreal to think about how much time has passed, and while I wish I could say it's been a simple, happily-ever-after love story, the reality is far more colourful.

We've had our fair share of ups and downs, and yes, at about the 18 year mark things fell apart. There were long moments when we couldn’t quite find each other, times when our connection slipped away, and loneliness crept into places that once held joy. The distance wasn't just physical; it was emotional too—a vast canyon that seemed impossible to bridge.

In those stretches, doubt would whisper in my ear, telling me that maybe this was it, that perhaps we had grown too far apart to ever find our way back. The pain of disconnection was sharp and unrelenting, filled with misunderstandings and unmet exp...

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How to Communicate Better When You're Upset

Dec 09, 2024

 Clear communication is the cornerstone of a healthy relationship, but it can be challenging when emotions run high or situations feel complex. Taking time to reflect on your thoughts and feelings can help you approach conversations with your partner in a calm and constructive way. Here are seven self-reflective questions to guide you:

1. What specifically about this situation is bothering me?

Pinpointing the exact issue can help you avoid generalising or bringing up unrelated grievances. Being specific makes it easier to address the root cause of your discomfort.

2. What is it that I am feeling?

Identify your emotions. Are you feeling eg angry, hurt, disappointed, rejected, dismissed, ignored, pressured? Naming your feelings helps you understand and articulate them better, paving the way for a productive conversation.

3. What are my expectations for this situation and my partner's behaviour? Were they met or not met?

Reflect on whether your expectations were realistic or

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5 Signs It's An Emotional Affair

Dec 01, 2024

 An emotional affair might not involve physical intimacy, but it can be just as damaging to your relationship. These connections often form gradually and may even feel innocent at first, but they can create deep emotional rifts between you and your partner. So, how can you tell if you or your partner are crossing the line? Here are five signs to watch for:

1. Emotional Intimacy Outside the Relationship

Sharing your deepest thoughts, feelings, and vulnerabilities with someone other than your partner can signal an emotional affair. If this person becomes your go-to confidant, and you feel a stronger emotional bond with them than with your partner, it's a red flag. Intimacy is the foundation of committed relationships, and redirecting that connection elsewhere can harm the bond with your partner.

2. Secrecy and Deception

Are you keeping your connection a secret? Deleting messages, hiding interactions, or feeling the need to downplay the relationship's importance to your partner are cl...

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A 2-Day Relationship Intensive is Your Fast Track to Emotional Connection With Your Partner

Oct 24, 2024

Alright, let’s get real for a second. If you’re reading this, it’s likely that you’re feeling disconnected in your relationship. Maybe you’ve tried counselling, maybe not, but you’ve hit a point where it feels like you’re just stuck. Same arguments. Same emotional walls. It’s exhausting, right?

Let me tell you something. This isn’t about just fixing “communication problems” or figuring out who’s right and who’s wrong. It’s about rebuilding the emotional bond between you and your partner. That’s what makes a 2-day Relationship Intensive so powerful. Instead of the usual fortnightly routine, this deep dive helps you understand and shift the patterns that are driving disconnection. It’s a focused, immersive experience that can get you and your partner back on the same team. 

I’ve been working with couples for years, and here’s why this approach is so different from traditional therapy and why it works.

1. Go Deeper Than the Everyday Conflicts

You’ve probably been through it—talking ab...

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The Most Important 2 Minutes of Your Day

Jun 21, 2024

Hello, fellow explorers of the human heart! Let's dive into the deliciously complex world of relationships. Today, we're going to talk about something seemingly trivial yet profoundly telling: how we greet our partners at the end of the day. Trust me, it's a microcosm of your entire relationship—a tiny moment that speaks volumes.

The Hug-o-Meter: Measuring Connection in Seconds

Let's start with the basics. Picture this: you walk through the door after a long day. How does your partner greet you? Is it a warm hug, a quick peck on the cheek, or a distracted "hey" while they stay glued to their screen? These seemingly small interactions are actually a reflection of your emotional connection. A warm embrace can say "You Matter To Me, I'm Here For You, and We're In This Together", while a lukewarm or distracted greeting might say "I don't really care about you".

The Science of the 'Hello': Tiny Moments with Big Impact

Our brains are wired to seek connection and reassurance, especially a...

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Connection in Relationships and How to Rebuild It

Jul 02, 2023

You may find yourselves at a crossroad in your relationship, and you may be thinking about what went wrong and wondering if it is possible to repair the hurt and disconnect that has accumulated over the years.

Strength of Connection

When it comes to looking at relationships, it can be helpful to consider the strength of your connection.

The strength of your connection can be understood by looking at a few key aspects:

  1. The sense that you exist to each other: It is crucial to feel that you matter to one another and that you are present in each other's lives.

  2. Being top of mind: A strong connection is one where you feel that you matter to your partner. That they think of you when you're not there and that they consider you and you them. 

  3. A knowing that you are there for each other emotionally, physically (and intimately) when you need or when you reach for each other. 

  4. Feeling cherished and protected: A healthy relationship involves feeling valued and protected by ea

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How Couples Unintentionally Hurt Each Other

Jun 01, 2023

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it's easy to overlook the small yet powerful ways in which we unknowingly reject our partners. These seemingly insignificant actions, if left unaddressed, can gradually erode the foundation of love and connection within our relationships. Learn the subtle but detrimental ways we reject each other daily and the long-term effects they can have on our relationships.

  1. Ignoring Emotional Needs: One of the subtle ways we inadvertently reject our partners is by dismissing or invalidating their feelings. When we fail to acknowledge or empathise with their emotions, we send a message that their inner world is insignificant. Over time, this can lead to a sense of isolation, resentment, and emotional distance between partners.

  2. Withholding Communication: Silence can be just as damaging as hurtful words. When we avoid open and honest communication, we deny our partners the opportunity to be heard and understood. This withholding of communication

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How to Support Your Partner When They're Anxious

May 04, 2023

Hey there, friend! Do you have a partner who struggles with anxiety? It can be tough to watch someone you love experience feelings of fear and worry, and it's natural to want to help. But sometimes, it's hard to know what to do or say. That's why I'm here to share some tips on how to support your anxious partner. Whether you're new to the relationship or have been together for years, there are things you can do to ease their anxiety and strengthen your bond. So grab a cup of tea, get cozy, and let's dive in!

First of all, it's important to understand that anxiety is a complex and often overwhelming experience. Your partner may feel like they're trapped in a cycle of worry and fear that they can't control. It's not a choice, and it's not something they can simply "snap out of." With that in mind, it's crucial to approach the situation with compassion and patience. Remember that your partner is doing the best they can, and that you're in this together. When you're able to empathise with...

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