Relationships
The Sacred Work of Heartbreak
Relinquishing the God-like Fantasy of LoveIn a society where most people spend more time on dating apps than in places of worship, the pursuit of a romantic partner has become a holy quest. Read more
Facing Post-Separation Abuse
Sometimes the Breakup Isn't the EndPost-separation abuse can easily masquerade as a simple "bad breakup." Read more
The Video Game Therapist
A Creative Approach to the Male Friendship CrisisMaking friends isn’t easy. But amid unprecedented levels of anxiety, depression, and trauma, and in the middle of what the Department of Health and Human... Read more
The Esther Perel Phenomenon
Did Mental Health Become Entertainment?Therapy is having a moment right now, with clinicians filling our social media feeds, bestseller lists, and concert halls. How did we get here? And where are... Read more
Esther Perel on Working with Sexuality to Transform Relationships
And Busting Myths about Today’s RelationshipsObserve relationship expert Esther Perel in action as she helps couples navigate infidelity, incompatibility, and the impacts of childhood trauma. Read more
The Surrogacy Partnership
Navigating a Complicated, Intimate ArrangementBuilding a trusting relationship with a surrogate requires a wide array of interpersonal and self-regulation skills— and can be the ultimate exercise in... Read more
Boys Holding Hands
How Are We Policing the Beauty of Male Intimacy?In "Close," director Lukas Dhont illustrates what can happen when society squashes the beautiful, empathic relationships that come naturally to boys. Read more
“She Looks Just Like You”
What Are We Not Seeing with Donor-Assisted IVF?Understanding the impact of “resemblance talk” and the challenge of “parental claiming” can help the parents of donor-conceived children feel... Read more
Taking Sides in Couples Therapy
The Importance of Ditching NeutralityWhen one partner is clearly in the wrong, being an impartial couples therapist can do more harm than good. Read more
The Myth of Low Sexual Desire
Updating Our Ideas about Erotic Well-BeingGreat sex over the long term is not about how much you want sex; it’s about how much you like the sex you’re having. Read more
A Monogamish Love Triangle
The Painful Geometry of an Open RelationshipA botched foray into polyamory leaves a woman feeling more singularly herself. Read more
Celebrating Sue Johnson
A Tribute to a Leading Force in the FieldPsychotherapy Networker honors the memory of Sue Johnson, EFT and EFIT pioneer, with highlights from her trailblazing career. Read more
How to Know It's Narcissistic Abuse
Signs to Watch for in TherapyWatch this clip of Dr. Ramani explaining the signs of narcissistic abuse in a relationship and what it looks like in your therapy office. Read more
Building Rapport with Victims of Narcissistic Abuse
Don't Shame Your ClientsWatch this clip of Dr. Ramani explaining how to help your clients who are survivors of narcissistic and build trust. Read more
What is Betrayal Blindness?
Dr. Ramani on Survivors of Narcissistic AbuseWatch this clip of Dr. Ramani explaining what betrayal blindness looks like in relationships impacted by narcissistic abuse. Read more
Practice Tools: May/June 2024
The best from across the field of psychotherapy . . . on us!Download a worksheet from this month’s selection: Nancy Johnston's "The Clinician’s Codependency Treatment Workbook." Read more
Editor's Note: March/April 2024
The Loneliness EpidemicThis issue aims to explore what we can do about loneliness in our therapy offices—not just for kids and young adults, but for people at any stage of life Read more
Cultivating Relationships in Real Life
Seven Strategies for Guiding Lonely Young AdultsBy asking the right questions in therapy, we can help make the road to adulthood less lonely for high school and college-age kids. Read more
Celebrating Black Sisterhood
The Power of Healing in CommunityForming strong connections with others is not only integral to our development as humans, it’s connected to our very survival. For Black women, this is... Read more
The Gottmans on How to Fight Right
Conflict is a Human ConstantFrom their new book, Fight Right, relationship experts John and Julie Gottman explain why some couples conflict will never go away. Read more
Rethinking Codependence
An Attachment-Based Framework for CaregiversDoes codependency pathologize our natural willingness to help those we love? Read more
Practice Tools: November/December 2023
The best from across the field of psychotherapy . . . on us!This month’s selection is from Alexandra Solomon’s, Love Every Day: 365 Relationship Self-Awareness Practices to Help Your Relationship Heal, Grow and... Read more
An Emotionally Focused Path to Healing Trauma
Accessing the Resource of RelationshipsSue Johnson, developer of EFT, argues that because we’re socially bonded beings, trauma is always about relationships—and relationships are key to healing... Read more
The Art of Dating Your Ex
A Therapist Finds Love Where She Least Expects ItWhat would you do differently if you could rekindle love with your ex? Read more
Uncovering Intimate Partner Violence
When Does Relationship Conflict Tip into Abuse?Intimate partner violence isn’t as obvious to therapists as cultural stereotypes suggest—and even when it’s revealed, the path forward isn’t always... Read more
Were You Raised by a Four-Year-Old?
The Impact of Emotionally Immature ParentsAuthor Lindsay Gibson reveals how exploring our parents’ emotional lack of maturity can free us up to become more emotionally mature ourselves. Read more
Hunting for Harry
Can a Lost Marriage Be Retrieved?When losing your spouse in a bookstore helps you find perspective. Read more
Editor's Note
Rethinking relationshipsMy editorial Spidey-sense tells me there’s a good chance that some readers will raise an eyebrow—or maybe two—at this issue of the magazine Read more
When One Partner Is Kinky...
Cracking Open the ConversationHaving an erotic craving that seems shocking to a partner doesn’t have to be a death knell for a relationship. Read more
Rewriting Marriage Contracts
Fresh Options for Ambivalent CouplesThe choice for ambivalent couples is no longer binary: separate or stay together. Instead, therapists can help them craft formal yet flexible agreements... Read more