There is always hope
It was a real joy to speak with Davina McCall on her Begin Again Podcast recently, particularly because so much of what we discussed centred around hope, repair and the possibility of recalibration in relationships.
Karen
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Emotional stability in relationships
So many women responded to the question “what do you want from a man in a relationship?” with the same answers: emotional stability, calm, peace and ease of communication. But emotional stability is one of those relationship qualities that people instinctively recognise, while often struggling to define.
The sandwich generation
In many Mediterranean societies, young adults living at home well into adult life has remained culturally normal, and with it a more reciprocal model of family care. In contrast, the British ideal of independence has often equated adulthood with distance: geographical, emotional and practical.
Sensory overload and intimacy
We often talk about intimacy as if it should be instinctive. As if, with the right person, it will simply click into place and feel effortless. For many neurodivergent people, especially those with ADHD, autism, or sensory processing differences, it rarely feels that simple.
Reflections on being a TV therapist
There were many things I loved about being part of the show. The themes were universal. The issues the couples brought into the room are the same ones I see every day in my practice. Communication breakdown, trust, mismatched expectations, the tension between autonomy and connection.
Karen talks ADHD and intimacy on ADHD Chatter
I had a great time on ADHD Chatter with Alex Partridge recently.
The main focus was the impact ADHD can have on intimacy We covered a lot of ground!
Autonomy VS interdependence
One of the central tensions I see in modern relationships is the difference in how partners interpret autonomy and interdependence. Couples often assume they’re speaking the same emotional language, but they’re not.
Cultural differences in relationships
Couples from different cultural backgrounds often discover that the most important work is not deciding which culture should “win.” Instead, the challenge is learning whether it is possible to build a shared culture together.
Where do men learn intimacy now?
Many men struggle deeply with emotional closeness. This is not because they lack desire for connection, but because they were never really taught how to build it.
Who initiates now? Gender and dating
Many emotionally aware, capable women still feel a quiet hesitation when it comes to initiating romantic connection. Why?