That “kind, supportive friend” who suddenly reveals his obsessive side? That wasn’t a personality change—it was the mask slipping. I’ve spent decades watching this particular psychological horror movie play out, and it’s about time we called it what it is: […]
Marriage - Monica Dean - Relationships
“I’m Not Wanted Anymore”
I was chatting with a couple last week in my favorite coffee spot in Didsbury. I’d known them both for years, and after a bit of small talk, he leaned forward and whispered, “Mon, the physical side of our marriage […]
Marriage - Monica Dean - Relationships
“I’m a People-Pleasing Disaster”
I’ve always been struck by the way women across different cultures manage relationships so differently, yet face strikingly similar inner battles. From boardrooms in Tokyo to community centers in Nairobi, women constantly navigate this delicate balance between being true to […]
Relationships - Sophia Rivera
My Partner is My Family’s Pet Peeve
When everyone hates your partner, you’re in the middle of an emotional tug-of-war that science says you’ll probably lose. Let’s cut through the BS: that gut-wrenching feeling when your parents or friends disapprove of your romantic partner isn’t just annoying—it’s […]
Relationships - Sophia Rivera
“I’m Having a Rebound and I Won’t Apologize for It”
Ever wonder why that relationship right after a bad breakup gets such a bad reputation? Let’s be honest – we’ve all either been there or watched a friend dive head-first into what everyone calls a “rebound.” But here’s the thing: […]
Jas Mendola - Marriage - Relationships
” Warning: Mother-in-Law Invasion Imminent – Deploy Boundaries or Die a Slow Death of Sanity”
Your wife just had a baby two months ago. Her mother shows up unannounced—again—saying she’s “just here to help.” Three hours later, she’s rearranged your kitchen, criticized how you’re holding your own child, and your wife is in tears after […]
Marriage - Monica Dean - Relationships
“I’m a Shape-Shifting Fraud”
I’ve often noticed that women across cultures share a remarkable ability to adapt—sometimes to our detriment. Whether I’m counseling corporate executives in Tokyo or young mothers in Mexico City, I see the same pattern: we become experts at shape-shifting to […]
Relationships - Sophia Rivera
“I’m Not Your Sex Therapist, But…You’re Doing It Wrong”
Ever noticed how we talk about sex and intimacy separately? Like they’re two different planets that occasionally align? I’ve spent 20 years watching couples struggle with what research already knows: emotional intimacy and sexual desire are locked in a dance […]
Relationships - Sophia Rivera
“I’m a Hot Mess and I Know It: Why I Keep Dating Toxic Partners and How I’m (Sort Of) Okay With That”
We’ve been asking the wrong question about toxic relationships. It’s not “Why do people stay in toxic relationships?” but “Why do we *all* keep recreating dysfunctional patterns even when we know better?” Research consistently shows that cognitive awareness doesn’t automatically […]
Relationships - Sophia Rivera
I’m Dying For Your Attention
Ever been in love with someone who just doesn’t feel the same way? Welcome to unrequited love – that uniquely painful emotional experience that feels like it’s happening only to you but turns out to be surprisingly universal. Research shows […]