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 Doherty Coaching, Couples Coaching Brighton, Blog Category: Couples Connection.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Many emotionally aware, capable women still feel a quiet hesitation when it comes to initiating romantic connection. Why?
I have long been a fan of intergenerational living. I have practised it in one form or another for most of my life.
Last year, I had the pleasure of working with Netflix on a new series called Blue Therapy. Being part of the production was genuinely enjoyable, down to both the creative process and the couples at the heart of the show.