Welcome to my Blog

Thank you for stopping by. This space is where I share research, reflections, and practical tools drawn from my experience as a marriage and family therapist.

Are you a couple looking for clarity? A professional curious about the science of relationships? Or simply someone interested in how love and resilience work? I’m glad you’ve found your way here. I can help with that.

Each post is written with one goal in mind: to help you better understand yourself, your partner, and the hidden dynamics that shape human connection.

Grab a coffee (or a notebook), explore what speaks to you, and take what’s useful back into your life and relationships. And if a post sparks a question, or makes you realize you could use more support, I’d love to hear from you.

Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.
~Daniel

P.S.

Feel free to explore the categories below to find past blog posts on the topics that matter most to you. If you’re curious about attachment, navigating conflict, or strengthening intimacy, these archives are a great way to dive deeper into the research and insights that I’ve been sharing for years.

 

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

Disrupted sleep in your 30s and 40s? There are consequences…

Greetings, gentle reader. Are you sleeping ok?

Did you know that, for some of you, how you’re sleeping now might be carving grooves into your cognitive destiny?

As you’ve probably noticed, this blog has an ongoing focus on sleep science.

A recent study has suggested that disrupted sleep patterns that are established in your 30s and 40s might impact memory later.

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Family Life and Parenting Daniel Dashnaw Family Life and Parenting Daniel Dashnaw

Couples therapy for infertility

Couples therapy for infertility typically grapples with communication deficits, an impaired decision-making process, and issues with power dynamics and gender politics.

Couples who have crossed the medical threshold to avail themselves of all that medical science has to offer sometimes need to unpack their frustrations in couples therapy…

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What is Portia Polygamy?

"Portia polygamy" is a term that's not often heard, so let's explore its meaning a bit more.

Portia polygamy describes the pattern of engaging in multiple, successive marriages.

The name evokes the idea of a series of marital relationships, much like the character Portia in Shakespeare's play, who navigates various complex relationships, albeit without multiple marriages.

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How to Fight Fair Daniel Dashnaw How to Fight Fair Daniel Dashnaw

The neuroscience of perpetual marital problems

One of the outstanding contributions of neuroscience and Gottman’s research is the notion of perpetual vs. solvable marital problems.

When a science-based couples therapist is assessing a new couple, it’s crucial to ascertain whether their problems are solvable or perpetual.

Gottman’s research shows that 69% of relationship conflict is about perpetual problems.

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What Happy Couples Know Daniel Dashnaw What Happy Couples Know Daniel Dashnaw

Secret to Feeling 10 Years Younger: It's All About This Simple Habit…

Imagine feeling a decade younger in just two days. It might sound like a dream, but according to a groundbreaking study conducted in a sleep lab, getting enough sleep can make this dream a reality.

The research reveals that adequate sleep isn't just about feeling refreshed—it's a crucial factor in feeling and looking younger.

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Neurodiverse Couples Daniel Dashnaw Neurodiverse Couples Daniel Dashnaw

How to manage an Asperger’s Meltdown

From a neurotypical (NT) point of view, an Asperger’s meltdown is when an Aspie experiences a temporary loss of emotional control.

It is a state of profound overwhelm in which no new information can be processed.

They typically don’t last long and are often due to specific stimuli such as excess external stimulation, compounding stressors, or abrupt and significant change. Here’s what you need to know…

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