Welcome to my Blog

This blog is for life partners who suspect their relationship problem is not just communication, compatibility, or stress.

It may be a repeating system. These essays explain the patterns. Effective clinical work interrupts them.

Most folks don’t arrive here because something dramatic has happened.

They arrive because something feels… different.

The relationship still works. Conversations still happen. Life continues.

But something important is no longer organizing it the way it used to.

This space is where I write about that shift.

Not just what breaks relationships—but what quietly changes them:

  • how desire adapts.

  • how attention moves.

  • how meaning erodes or deepens over time.

These patterns are not random.
They tend to unfold in a predictable sequence.

If you’re here, you’re likely in one of those moments:

  • trying to understand what changed.

  • trying to decide whether it matters.

  • trying to figure out what to do next.

Start anywhere.

But if something here feels familiar, don’t treat it as abstract.

It usually isn’t.

Where to Begin

If you’re not sure what you’re looking for, these are a few good entry points:

If You’re Looking for More Than Insight

Understanding is useful.

But at a certain point, most couples realize they can explain their relationship clearly—and still not change it.

That’s where focused work becomes effective.

I offer structured, high-impact couples intensives designed to produce meaningful movement in a compressed period of time.

Before We Decide Anything

A brief consultation helps determine:

  • whether this is what you’re dealing with.

  • whether this format fits.

  • and whether we should move forward.

Get a Clear Read on Your Relationship

Take your time reading.

But if something here lands in a way that feels specific—pay attention to that.

That’s usually where this work begins.

Continue Exploring

If you prefer to browse more broadly, you can explore posts by topic below.

But most people don’t find what they need by browsing.

They find it when something they read feels uncomfortably accurate.

Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.
~ Daniel

 

Marriage and Mental Health Daniel Dashnaw Marriage and Mental Health Daniel Dashnaw

DBT Skills List

Let’s discuss the essential skills of Dialectical Behavior Therapy.

Originally developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan to treat Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), has proven to be an effective antidote to the emotional dysregulation and interpersonal chaos often associated with BPD.

But don't let the clinical jargon scare you off—DBT skills are essentially life skills that can help anyone navigate the choppy waters of their emotional life with greater ease and grace.

Imagine having a toolkit to help you stay calm during a heated argument, communicate your needs without escalating tensions, and even find inner peace amidst life's inevitable ups and downs.

Sounds like magic, right? Well, it’s not magic, but it is incredibly effective.

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Marriage and Mental Health Daniel Dashnaw Marriage and Mental Health Daniel Dashnaw

Understanding the Quiet Borderline Personality

As a couples therapist, I've occassionally encountered folks who struggle with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) in a way that doesn't fit the classic, more observable symptoms.

This subtler presentation is known as "quiet borderline" personality. Unlike their more overt counterparts, those with quiet BPD direct their intense emotions inward rather than outward, making their struggles less visible but equally challenging.

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Marriage and Mental Health Daniel Dashnaw Marriage and Mental Health Daniel Dashnaw

What is a CSA Survivor?

"What is a CSA survivor?" This crucial question addresses the experiences of folks who endured Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA) and its profound impact on their adult lives, especially within intimate relationships.

I've seen firsthand the complexities and challenges that CSA survivors face in their romantic partnerships.

This blog post considers the long-lasting effects of CSA, how these issues manifest in couples therapy, and strategies for fostering healing and intimacy.

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Marriage and Mental Health Daniel Dashnaw Marriage and Mental Health Daniel Dashnaw

10 sure-fire ways to curb doom scrolling for marital happiness

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Doom scrolling is the compulsive consumption of problem-saturated media content.

The scroll describes the endless feed of posts, memes, and articles many of which feed our plugged-in brains with doom, gloom, and drama.

This intense information that is readily available on your screens pulls you out of your current realities. It can cause us to neglect our own self-care.

The anxiety-producing and addictive nature of doom scrolling might be taking a toll on your marital happiness, too…

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Marriage and Mental Health Daniel Dashnaw Marriage and Mental Health Daniel Dashnaw

10 breakthrough treatments for depression most folks have never tried

As a couples therapist, I understand that depression can have a profound impact on relationships, affecting not just the individual but their partner and the dynamics between them.

Clinical depression affects around 350 million people worldwide, yet only a small fraction receive the best care.

Here, I'll outline 10 new, scientifically backed treatments for depression, emphasizing their potential benefits for folks within a relationship context.

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Are you zoning out while visiting your childhood home?

A few days ago my client Harry, a 30-something show-runner, found himself in a peculiar situation during a recent visit to his emotionally distant elderly parents.

His wife, Marjorie, recounted how Harry seemed to zone out and suddenly seemed to ‘wake up’ in the middle of an argument with her about his missing their agreed-upon curfew to leave.

I've seen this scenario play out many times, often stemming from dissociation linked to traumatic or emotionally constipated childhoods.

Let's consider the concept of dissociation, how our childhood experiences can trigger it, and best practices to improve situational awareness when revisiting your childhood home.

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Marriage and Mental Health Daniel Dashnaw Marriage and Mental Health Daniel Dashnaw

Roman Catholic Eroticism and the Theology of the Body

When one thinks of Roman Catholicism, images of grand cathedrals, incense-filled rituals, and Latin hymns might come to mind.

But what about Roman Catholic eroticism? Yes, you read that right.

As a couples therapist, I recently had the privilege of working with a couple set exploring the paradigm of Roman Catholic eroticism. Although I was a bit taken aback, I found fascinating insights into the interplay between faith, love, and intimacy.

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Marriage and Mental Health Daniel Dashnaw Marriage and Mental Health Daniel Dashnaw

The long-term impact of antidepressants on quality of life

While antidepressants are known to reduce depression symptoms in the short term, their long-term effects on overall quality of life are less clear.

Recent research suggests that antidepressants may not significantly improve quality of life over time.

A long-term analysis comparing folks with depression who took antidepressants to those who did not reveals that, after two years, there is no notable difference in their quality of life.

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Marriage and Mental Health Daniel Dashnaw Marriage and Mental Health Daniel Dashnaw

How antidepressants affect your ability to enjoy activities you once loved

Antidepressants can be a double-edged sword. While they help alleviate the psychological pain of depression, they can also dull the pleasure from activities that once brought joy.

This phenomenon, known as "emotional blunting," affects about half of all patients on these medications. Let's dive into why this happens and how it impacts everyday life.

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Marriage and Mental Health Daniel Dashnaw Marriage and Mental Health Daniel Dashnaw

How do antidepressants influence memory bias in depression?

Here’s the nub of the problem: Depressed folks often remember negative events more vividly than positive ones.

This cognitive bias can significantly impact their overall view of themselves and their lives.

However, a recent study suggests that antidepressants may help counteract this tendency by reducing the bias towards negative memories.

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