When you and your partner are around each other constantly, that closeness can backfire. Even contented couples can quietly drift into a state of togetherness that suffocates their relationship. I have seen it many times with couples in the clinic. Their happy little bubble starts to feel boring. That creeping dissatisfaction is often a surprise because their marriage is neither toxic nor broken. What they have, paradoxically, is too much of a good thing.

Recognising the signs of emotional unavailability can bring clarity, as these partners often unconsciously sabotage relationships due to feelings of discomfort or fear of closeness and abandonment.

While health can significantly affect libido and what’s possible, a lot of older adults maintain satisfying sex lives by adapting to changes and challenges. Many even discover that in later years their sex life is more fulfilling than it ever was. Here’s how.

The therapist Jean-Claude Chalmet says long-term couples often inadvertently ruin their love life. Here's where you're going wrong.

If you’re worried that the stress and responsibilities of life have started to unravel your relationship to the point where you no longer feel like the partnership is a safe space and divorce is the only option—that’s your body and your nervous system telling you something very important.

Not every encounter has to make the chandelier shake. Even humdrum, socks-on sex leaves a warm glow. And when you learn to embrace your physical bond, and all that it can give, your relationship will deepen and thrive along with your love life.

The strongest couples respond with repair, trust and a willingness to work through the issues. When couples acknowledge that all relationships require effort to maintain the connection, they can recognise distance early—before the gap becomes insurmountable—respond with intention rather than reactivity, and work towards the necessary intimacy to reconnect.

Couples fight over money more than sex. The therapist Jean-Claude Chalmet on how to avoid financial incompatibility — and four writers on how they split the bills.

But before we look at how much is “too much”, couples need to first identify the reasons why they drink and the function of alcohol in their relationship. It can be complicated but if we want our habits and happiness to improve, that’s where it starts.

A new connection removes the illusion of being in control. So how do you know if you're truly ready for dating? Perhaps you've asked yourself this question multiple times throughout the course of therapy or “doing the work”, but you’re not quite sure.