In some neurodiverse relationships, building emotional intimacy can sometimes feel like climbing a mountain. We want to be close to our partner, sharing dreams, fears, and everything in between.

But expecting deep emotional closeness all at once can feel overwhelming, especially if one or both partners aren’t used to regularly opening up on that level.

Here’s where psychology’s “Foot-in-the-Door Technique” can help couples ease into a deeper connection without pressure.

The Foot-in-the-Door Technique, originally described in social psychology, suggests that people are more likely to agree to larger requests if they’ve first agreed to smaller ones.

This principle can be a helpful approach in relationships, too, where it can create a gradual path toward greater intimacy. Here’s how it works in couples therapy, along with some tips for using this technique to grow closer in a supportive, low-pressure way.

In relationships, even the most loving intentions can sometimes lead to surprising results.

One partner may try to “fix” a problem or help their spouse in a way that feels supportive, only to see the effort create new challenges. This phenomenon is sometimes called the "Cobra Effect," named after an unintended consequence that famously occurred in colonial India.

It’s a reminder that sometimes, when we try to resolve one issue, we accidentally make things worse.

In couples therapy, the "Cobra Effect" becomes a helpful concept to discuss because it can open up conversations about how intentions, actions, and outcomes may not always align in the ways we expect.

By exploring this effect, couples can discover how to channel their good intentions into actions that truly support their relationship. Let’s take a closer look at how this happens and what couples can do to avoid some common relationship “cobra traps.”

Aging gracefully has become a more nuanced concept with the work of pioneering geriatric psychiatrist Dr. Gene Cohen. Known for his research on creativity, wisdom, and growth throughout the aging process,

Dr. Cohen offered groundbreaking insights into how our cognitive abilities evolve as we age. His work emphasizes that aging isn't merely a process of physical decline; rather, it can be a time of profound wisdom growth, creativity, and personal expansion.

As discussions around fault-based divorce re-emerge in American politics, couples therapists are increasingly confronted with questions about how this shift could affect the therapeutic landscape.

For decades, no-fault divorce has enabled unhappy spouses to end dead marriages without needing to establish fault, promoting less adversarial separations.

However, if certain conservative-led efforts to repeal no-fault divorce succeed, the change could redefine marriage’s social contract, placing greater emphasis on permanence and responsibility—and creating new challenges for therapists aiming to support healthy relationships and personal well-being.

Why is Fault-Based Divorce back in the conversation?

When you think of “imagination,” you might picture dreaming up castles in the sky or envisioning your ideal vacation.

But there’s another kind of imagination that’s especially useful in relationships, and that’s prospective imagination. This type of imagination—the ability to envision a shared future or imagine different scenarios—can be a game-changer in couples therapy.

With prospective imagination, couples can navigate the complexities of their relationships and cultivate a deeper, more resilient connection.

So, how does it work?

And why does imagining future scenarios help couples create a better present? Let’s dive into how prospective imagination can strengthen relationships.

What is Prospective Imagination?

In this country, you gotta make the money first. Then when you get the money, you get the power. Then when you get the power, then you get the women. Tony Montana

…and then you get the couples therapy. Daniel Dashnaw.

So, they sit down on the couch in my office—the Trump Bro and his girlfriend. He’s decked out in red, white, and blue, like a Fourth of July lawn ornament, complete with the cap, proudly proclaiming his loyalty. I can tell right off this isn’t the usual couples therapy.

His girlfriend, meanwhile, looks like she’s been dragged here against her will, clutching her phone like it’s a lifeline to the outside world. She seems both amused and exhausted.

“Daniel,” she says, cutting straight to the chase, “I just don’t know how much more I can take.” She glances over at him, and he flashes her a look of endearing obliviousness.

“What seems to be the problem?” I ask, pen ready, my best therapeutic voice on.

There’s something truly wonderful about a story that leaves room for interpretation—a narrative that doesn’t hammer its meaning into us but instead invites us to wander around and discover for ourselves.

This approach, often called “narrative openness,” is like a choose-your-own-adventure for adults, minus the treacherous caves and pirate maps (though those would be fun too).

But narrative openness isn’t just a stylistic choice in storytelling; it’s also a quality that enriches our lives in subtle, surprising ways. So let’s dig into why leaving room for possibility in our stories, and in our lives, can bring both pleasure and consolation.

Life can sometimes feel like it’s hit a standstill.

Maybe you’ve reached a point where the future feels like a closed book, or maybe you’ve struggled with feeling unrecognized, like others don’t see the potential you know is there.

These experiences can feel isolating, but they’re also surprisingly common—and there are names for them. Two concepts that capture these feelings are narrative foreclosure and covert narcissism, and they both reveal a lot about how we understand ourselves and our stories.

Add the influence of cultural narcissism—our society’s fixation on external success and validation—and it’s easy to see why many people feel disconnected from their own sense of purpose.

Let’s explore these ideas, looking at how they impact us, how they’re shaped by our culture, and ways to reconnect with ourselves in a meaningful, fulfilling way.

In the field of gerontology, Dr. Robert Butler is a name that resonates with warmth and wisdom. His groundbreaking idea of a “life review” transformed how we understand aging, memory, and the quest for meaning in later life.

Introduced in the 1960s, the life review concept suggests that older adults naturally engage in an inner process of revisiting their past—reflecting on pivotal moments, sorting through life’s highs and lows, and often seeking closure for lingering regrets.

More than a journey down memory lane, Dr. Butler’s life review has become a foundational approach in end-of-life care, therapeutic settings, and aging psychology.

In this exploration, we’ll dive into the life review’s psychological benefits, its impact on end-of-life care, and some of the thought-provoking critiques that have emerged.

Russia’s “Ministry of Sex” proposal isn’t just an eye-catching headline; it’s a response to a profound, urgent demographic crisis.

The country’s birth rate has been on a steep decline, worsened by the ongoing war in Ukraine and the economic struggles it brings.

In short, Russia’s population is shrinking, and the government is pulling out all the stops—however unconventional—to boost it.

This strategy isn’t as bizarre as it sounds when you dig into the historical and cultural factors at play. So, let’s break down the “why” behind Russia’s potential dive into state-sponsored romance.

When we think about aging, it’s easy to view it as something inevitable—like an old car slowly breaking down. But Dr. Tom Kirkwood, an evolutionary biologist, offers a different perspective.

His research suggests that aging isn’t about a “programmed” decline; instead, it’s a consequence of how organisms (like us) allocate limited resources between growth, survival, and reproduction.

In other words, we’re always balancing how much energy we put into thriving in the present versus maintaining ourselves for the future.

For couples, this framework offers valuable insights into building a relationship that’s resilient, adaptable, and full of life—even as it matures. Let’s explore how Kirkwood’s ideas can bring warmth, strength, and longevity to relationships.

With another election season behind us, therapists everywhere may be gearing up for a busy post-election holiday season.

Political divides can run deep, and family gatherings in these times are rarely immune to the pressures of differing opinions and generational clashes.

Yet, the season also holds the potential for understanding, empathy, and—perhaps—a family truce.