In the dance of relationships, maintaining harmony often feels like an art form. As a couple's therapist, I've witnessed how easily partners can trigger each other, leading to a cascade of emotional reactions that, if not properly managed, can spiral out of control. The key to circumventing these...

Hello, I'm Nicola Foster, a couples and sex therapist. In this article, I'm offering three practical suggestions to support couples who have noticed they feel like housemates and have lost connection with each other as lovers.

Most of us are juggling many roles.

You might be a parent, a carer for...

Have you gotten out of the habit of touching your partner like you used to?

Hi, I'm Nicola Foster, I'm a Sex and Relationship Therapist and I work with couples who want to reignite intimacy in their lives. In this article I share some of my recommendations on how couples can use touch to...

On this human journey of life, we often find ourselves standing at crossroads, faced with decisions that seem impossible to make. David Schnarch's concept of 'two choice dilemmas' really resonates with me. Sometimes life presents us with two paths, but we can only choose one. Whether it's...

Navigating mismatched desires in a relationship can be a real challenge. But fear not, because I've got your back with some practical advice to turn this obstacle into an opportunity for growth and deeper connection.

Embrace the Conversation

• Don't Sweep it Under the Carpet: It's tempting to...

Initiator-Inquirer, a communication method crafted by Ellyn Bader and Pete Pearson from The Couples Institute is my go to tool for couples to begin to create space and better understanding with each other.

It's a brilliant structured approach to support better understanding in relationships.

...

We talk all the time about love. But what is love when it comes to romantic relationships?  Enter Robert Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love. I love using this powerful model to explore how 3 key components intertwine for a fulfilling love connection.

The Triangular Theory of Love

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Conflicts are natural in any relationship, but they don't have to lead to frustration or resentment. That's where the power of polarity mapping comes in -  I love using polarity mapping to help my clients build better, healthier relationships. It helps lead to a more balanced and open...

WANT TO ARGUE LESS?

How to hack the nervous system to prevent arguments escalating. When couples argue with each other, they often get into a downward spiral. So by learning how to positively co-regulate with each other we don't waste time getting lost in an argument.

So what are 4 tips...

How are you at asking for what you want in bed?

If you want a satisfying sex life, it’s so important to be able to be able to say what you DO and DON’T want. And it’s equally vital that you and your partner can listen to each other’s needs and give and ask for feedback.

But...