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 with an international practice.
I write about what happens to desire, attachment, and meaning once the early myths stop working.
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. I'm accepting new clients, and this blog is for the benefit of all my gentle readers.
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, l'd love to hear from you. Let's explore the scope of work you'd like to do together.
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 l've been sharing for years.
- 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
Does Marriage Help You Age More Gracefully? For Men, Yes. For Women, It’s a Mixed Bag
Marriage and aging: a duo that’s been studied for decades, but new research reveals the relationship is a bit like your in-laws—complicated.
A study published in International Social Work offers fresh insights, showing that married men are more likely to age gracefully, while for women, the benefits of marriage seem a little more... situational.
For women, marital stability—not just marriage itself—might hold the key to thriving in later years.
Let’s dig into the findings, sprinkle in a little humor (and empathy), and explore what this means for all of us.
Tactile Massage and ADHD: A Holistic Approach to Managing Symptoms
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects approximately 5% of children and adolescents worldwide, presenting challenges in focus, hyperactivity, and impulse control.
Traditional treatments, such as medications and behavioral therapies, can be effective, but they are not without limitations. Families often seek non-pharmacological approaches, either due to side effects or incomplete symptom relief from standard therapies.
A recent study published in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice explores the potential of tactile massage as a gentle, non-invasive intervention for adolescents with ADHD, offering promising results in reducing symptoms and improving quality of life.
Let’s discuss these findings, and the broader implications of tactile massage. We will also touch on how community mental health programs might apply research to adopt integrative, patient-centered approaches to ADHD care.
The Influence of Pornography on Young Adults' Sexual Behaviors and Scripts: Key Findings from a Longitudinal Study
A new study published in Psychology of Popular Media provides a detailed look into the role of pornography in shaping sexual scripts and behaviors among university students in Germany.
Conducted over nearly two years, the study found that increased pornography consumption is linked to adopting risky sexual scripts and behaviors, shedding light on the broader impact of adult content in shaping sexual attitudes and practices.
Do Narcissists Have Demons? An Exploration of Psychology, Theology, and Metaphor
The question, "Do narcissists have demons?" invites a complex dialogue bridging psychology, theology, and cultural metaphor.
While psychological frameworks describe narcissism as a diagnosable personality disorder, many religious traditions interpret similar traits—pride, grandiosity, and manipulation—as evidence of spiritual affliction or even demonic influence.
Let’s explore explore the idea from a balanced perspective, offering insights into how psychology and theology can converge and diverge in addressing this provocative question.
"Exes at the Wedding": A Celebration of Queer Relational Fluidity
In many LGBTQ+ communities, weddings often look less like a Hallmark scene and more like a joyful reunion of chosen family.
It’s not uncommon for ex-partners to play central roles: officiating, giving toasts, or simply sharing in the celebration.
This cultural phenomenon isn’t just a quirky detail—it reflects a deeply rooted set of values about community, connection, and the ability to redefine relationships.
Narcissistic Gift-Giving: Why It’s Not About You (and Never Was)
When the holidays roll around and that one friend or family member shows up with a gift that screams “Look at how amazing I am,” you might be dealing with a narcissist—but not just any narcissist.
Recent research published in the Journal of Personality reveals that the motivations behind narcissistic gift-giving are as complicated as the narcissists themselves.
Buckle up, because we’re diving into the wild world of narcissistic admiration, rivalry, and why some people just won’t bother to bring you a plant to your dinner party.
Do Men Spend More on Their Mistresses Than Their Wives? The Surprising Truth About Gift-Giving in Relationships
The image of the unfaithful man splurging on lavish gifts for his mistress while neglecting his wife is a tale as old as time—or at least as old as Hollywood.
Think Love Actually, where the affair partner gets the expensive necklace, leaving the wife with… well, not much.
But what if this stereotype isn’t true?
According to new research published in Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences, men don’t actually spend more on gifts for their affair partners.
In fact, both men and women invest more in their long-term relationships, reserving fewer resources for extramarital or casual connections.
This revelation turns a common trope upside down and offers fascinating insights into how we show love and commitment.
The Role of the Gay Uncle: Beyond Memes to Meaningful Connections
When we think of family dynamics, the "gay uncle" often appears as the fun-loving, wise, and endlessly entertaining relative who brings both humor and heart to family gatherings.
While pop culture and social media have popularized the term, there’s more to the "gay uncle" identity than meets the eye.
From evolutionary psychology to cultural sociology, this phenomenon provides a fascinating glimpse into how LGBTQ+ individuals enrich family systems in unique and impactful ways.
Weird Things Couples Do: More Delightful Oddities (Part 3)
Love, it turns out, is a never-ending parade of peculiarities.
As a couples therapist, I’ve seen it all—from synchronized sneezing contests to debates over imaginary scenarios. Here are 22 more examples of how couples let their quirky flags fly.
Weird Things Couples Do: More Reasons Love Is Delightfully Strange (Part 2)
If love is a circus, then weird couple habits are the main act.
As your friendly neighborhood couples therapist, I’ve cataloged a second set of quirks—proof that love is as much about playful absurdity as it is about intimacy.
And yes, science backs these up, so let’s celebrate the delightful oddities.
Weird Things Couples Do
As a couples therapist, I’ve witnessed the bizarre mating rituals of humanity up close and personal. If aliens ever wanted to study our species, I’d tell them to skip Area 51 and come to my office instead.
Because here’s the thing: love is weird. Delightfully, hilariously, heartwarmingly weird.
Every couple has quirks—some adorable, some… well, let’s just call them “special.”
But what’s fascinating is how these quirks are not random acts of oddity; they’re rooted in psychology, biology, and the strange beauty of love. Let me introduce you to some couples whose eccentricities are as endearing as they are research-backed.
Understanding the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI-13): A Quick, Reliable, (non-clinical) Tool for Measuring Narcissism
Narcissism—a word that’s become synonymous with self-centeredness and entitlement in today’s world. But in psychology, narcissism represents a specific set of personality traits that researchers study to understand individual behavior and social dynamics.
The Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI) has been one of the most widely used tools for assessing these traits in a non-clinical setting. And now, the NPI-13 provides a faster yet reliable way to evaluate narcissism.