Welcome to my Blog
Most people 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:
Marriage Is Still Chosen — Even by Those Who Once Stood Outside It.
Epistemic Safety: What It Is and Why It Matters in Relationships.
The Relationship Consequences of Living in a Permanent News Cycle.
The Two Types of People Narcissists Avoid (And Why You Might Be One of Them).
When Narcissists Grieve: Why Their Mourning Looks Cold, Delayed, or Self-Centered
The 3-6-9 Dating Rule: Why Most Relationships Change at Month 3, 6, and 9.
The First Listener Shift: A Precise Relationship Diagnostic Most Couples Miss.
Why Curiosity Is Sacred in Relationships (And What Happens When It Disappears).
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
- Attachment Issues
- Coronavirus
- Couples Therapy
- Extramarital Affairs
- Family Life and Parenting
- How to Fight Fair
- Inlaws and Extended Families
- Intercultural Relationships
- Marriage and Mental Health
- Married Life & Intimate Relationships
- Neurodiverse Couples
- Separation & Divorce
- Signs of Trouble
- Social Media and Relationships
- What Happy Couples Know
The persistence of narcissism through time: Can couples therapy help?
If you’re hoping that the narcissist in your life will change, a new study suggests you may have to wait a very long time. And even then, the change might be minimal.
A study published in the journal Psychological Bulletin analyzed 51 studies with more than 37,000 participants from North America, Europe, and New Zealand. The research explored how narcissism changes over a person’s lifespan.
While the researchers found that narcissism gradually declined with age, “the results show that this decline is not as large as one might hope,” said Ulrich Orth, the lead author and a professor of developmental psychology at the University of Bern in Switzerland.
When Narcissists Grieve: Why Their Mourning Looks Cold, Delayed, or Self-Centered
Grieving the loss of a loved one is a deeply personal and often excruciating experience.
But what happens when a narcissist is faced with such a profound life event?
The grieving process for folks with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) can be markedly different from that of others, shaped by their unique psychological makeup.
Understanding how narcissists grieve can shed light on their behavior and offer pathways for ways to offer compassion and support.
Weird things psychopaths do
Psychopaths enjoy an undeserved reputation as evil geniuses. In reality, they aren't all that smart, though they can be surprisingly subtle, especially when they’re female.
Their willingness to lie and manipulate to get what they want is chilling, yet intriguing.
In this blog, I’ll review a dozen psychological studies on psychopathy, revealing their personality traits, dark secrets, and why some psychopaths can be relatively successful.
Unmasking the Nice Guy Narcissist: 12 traits to watch out for
Let’s discuss the elusive Nice Guy Narcissist.
This charming specimen seems perfect on the surface—attentive, caring, and oh-so-polite. But as you look deeper, you might notice that there's something off about this seemingly perfect gentleman.
Let's dive into the 12 traits that define the Nice Guy Narcissist, shedding light on how to spot him early on.
12 Traits of Narcissism
Narcissism, often misunderstood and misrepresented, is an annoying and problematic personality trait.
While the term "narcissist" is frequently thrown around in popular culture, true narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a serious condition that affects how sufferers perceive themselves and interact with intimate others.
Understanding the 12 foundational traits of narcissism can help identify and address this disorder effectively.
Here, we’ll explore the 12 most prominent traits of narcissism, supported by social science research.
Understanding the Single Inventory Narcissism Score (SINS)
The Single Inventory Narcissism Score (SINS) is a psychological tool designed to measure narcissistic traits using just one straightforward question.
Unlike the more extensive Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI), which includes multiple questions, SINS offers a quick and simple assessment.
Why does this one question work so well in detecting narcissism?
Narcissistic Mortification: understanding and addressing deep emotional wounds in relationships
Narcissistic mortification is a profound emotional experience characterized by intense feelings of shame, humiliation, and inadequacy.
This concept is especially pertinent in the context of personal relationships, where partners may inadvertently or intentionally trigger these emotions in one another.
As a couples therapist, understanding and addressing narcissistic mortification is crucial for helping individuals and couples navigate the complex dynamics that can arise from these deep-seated emotional wounds.
The long shadow of childhood abuse on marriages: Insights from Israeli Arabs
As a marriage and family therapist, I've seen firsthand how past traumas can cast a long shadow over present relationships.
A recent study published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships brings this into sharp focus.
It reveals that Israeli Arabs who experienced higher levels of physical abuse in childhood often face poorer marriage quality as adults.
These folks also tend to report higher levels of psychological distress and are more likely to exhibit insecure attachment styles.
Eyes Wide or Narrow: What your gaze reveals about your emotions
As a couples therapist, I often hear the phrase, "The eyes are the windows to the soul."
But did you know that those windows can reveal an astonishing amount about a person's emotions?
Recent research suggests that the way people widen or narrow their eyes can tell us volumes about what they're feeling.
Let's explore the science behind this fascinating phenomenon and compare it to our well-documented struggle to detect lies.
Hypersexual Test: Are you more than just a little kinky?
Hypersexuality is a topic often shrouded in mystery, stigma, and misconceptions.
While many might joke about having an insatiable sexual appetite, hypersexuality is a serious issue that can wreak havoc on one’s life, much like any other addiction.
With the rise of digital culture and the easy availability of explicit content, understanding and identifying sex addiction has become more critical than ever.
This quiz aims to help you determine whether your sexual behaviors might be veering into addictive territory, while also exploring how Cultural Narcissism plays a role in this modern-day affliction.
How Narcissism changes over time: insights from recent research
We’ve all met that person who constantly talks about themselves, believes they’re superior to everyone else, and craves admiration.
These are hallmark traits of narcissism, a personality characteristic that's received a lot of attention recently. But how does narcissism evolve with age?
New research offers some surprising insights, indicating that these traits may become less pronounced as folks grow older.
Do I Have Childhood Trauma Quiz
Understanding your past can be a crucial step in healing and personal growth. This quiz is designed to help you explore potential childhood trauma.
Inspired by the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study, this quiz will guide you through a series of questions to evaluate your experiences.
Remember, this quiz is not a substitute for professional advice but can be a starting point for understanding your history.