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
"Enshittification": A Therapist’s Lens on Family and Intimate Relationships
While"enshittification" may have been coined to describe the decline of online platforms, its relevance transcends the digital world.
As a marriage and family therapist, I see this word as an apt metaphor for the gradual deterioration of relationships when unchecked dynamics, selfishness, or neglect creep in.
Just as platforms once built on trust and utility erode due to profit-seeking, intimate connections can crumble when foundational values are sacrificed for short-term gains or external pressures.
Separated Fathers Face Unique Challenges in Staying Connected with Their Children, Especially Daughters
Parental separation is never easy, but it often hits fathers the hardest when it comes to maintaining meaningful connections with their children.
A new study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family reveals a concerning pattern: separated fathers, particularly in Italy, face significant barriers to staying in touch with their children—and the gap is most pronounced with daughters.
Even in our hyper-connected digital age, where communication seems just a click away, maintaining these bonds proves challenging.
This isn’t just a story about technology; it’s about relationships, gender dynamics, and how society shapes family roles in the wake of separation.
Do Women Have a Sixth Sense About Relationships? New Research Untangles the Mystery
When it comes to love, is it true that women have an intuitive radar for spotting trouble in paradise? Pop culture has long portrayed women as relationship whisperers, armed with an uncanny ability to forecast the rise and fall of romantic partnerships.
From rom-coms to watercooler gossip, the belief in women's superior "relationship instincts" is as enduring as it is compelling. But does science back up this idea? According to a fascinating new study, the answer is... complicated.
While women’s commitment levels were found to be a stronger predictor of relationship dissolution in mixed-gender couples, the plot thickens: men’s and women’s evaluations of love and satisfaction are equally critical. So, are women the oracles of relationships?
Or is the story more nuanced?
Love in the Time of Spreadsheets: Breaking Research the Perils of Office Romances in 2024
The workplace—a realm where the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingles with the scent of ambition, and where the copier's hum provides the soundtrack to our professional lives.
It's also a place where Cupid, that mischievous imp, occasionally swaps his bow for a stapler, leading to the age-old conundrum: office romances.
While tales of love blossoming between cubicles can warm the heart, they often leave HR departments reaching for the aspirin. Let's delve into why these workplace dalliances are often more trouble than they're worth, backed by social science research and a dash of humor.
Thanksgiving Turkeys and Gray Divorce: How Adult Children Navigate the Holiday Maze
Thanksgiving. The smell of roasted turkey, the clatter of too many casserole dishes, and the inevitable moment when someone says, “This isn’t how Mom used to make it.”
Now, imagine sprinkling in a hefty dash of “gray divorce”—the rising trend of older couples calling it quits after decades of marriage—and suddenly, your holiday stuffing isn’t the only thing feeling torn apart.
When parents divorce after the kids are grown, it often feels like an earthquake rumbling through long-held family traditions.
Add the logistical gymnastics of coordinating 2 Thanksgivings, navigating awkward new family dynamics, and managing emotional fallout, and it’s no wonder adult children might approach the holiday season with more dread than delight.
Kafka on Friendship and the Art of Reconnection: A Modern Perspective on Estrangement
Franz Kafka’s reflections on friendship offer a timeless lens through which we can examine the fractures and reconnections that define modern American family estrangements.
As Kafka wrestled with the paradoxes of intimacy and isolation, he illuminated truths about the human condition that resonate profoundly in our era of growing disconnection.
The Science of Career Personalities: What Your Job Says About You
Ever wonder if your job is shaping your personality—or if your personality guided you to your job in the first place?
A fascinating new study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology explored personality profiles across 263 occupations, revealing distinct personality patterns tied to specific professions.
Spoiler alert: it turns out not all accountants are shy, and not all salespeople are extroverts, but the trends are as entertaining as they are enlightening.
The Complex Connection Between Dark Personality Traits and Mental Health: What a New Study Reveals
A recent study published in the Journal of Personality sheds light on how dark personality traits—narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy—interact with mental health over time.
These findings bring an important perspective to understanding the nuanced relationships between traits associated with manipulative or self-serving tendencies and psychological well-being.
Are People in Relationships Happier Than Singles? Science Says Yes—With a Catch
Ever wondered if couples are really happier than their single friends?
Maybe you’ve scrolled through Instagram, side-eyeing those picture-perfect couples, while quietly relishing your solo Netflix binge.
Well, the verdict is in: people in relationships tend to be happier than singles, but—as with all things in life—it’s complicated.
A recent cross-cultural study, published in Evolutionary Psychological Science, dives deep into the emotional wellbeing of singles and couples across 12 countries.
The research reveals that intimate relationships, especially good ones, are strongly tied to higher life satisfaction and emotional wellbeing.
But before you run off to find a partner (or throw your phone across the room), let’s unpack the nuances with a dash of humor and a whole lot of science.
How Many Conflicting Theories of ADHD Are There Anyway?
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most complex neurodevelopmental conditions to study, and it shows no signs of yielding simple answers.
From neuroscientists mapping dopamine pathways to sociologists critiquing institutional norms, ADHD has sparked debates across disciplines.
The result?
A mosaic of conflicting theories that reflect the diverse and multifaceted nature of this condition. Let’s take a deeper dive into these theories, bringing in the latest research and exploring the interplay of biology, psychology, and social factors.
Surprising ADHD Research: Greater Life Demands Linked to Reduced Symptoms?
ADHD is often thought of as a persistent, unchanging condition, but new research is challenging that view. A long-term study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry reveals that ADHD symptoms often fluctuate over time, influenced by life circumstances and environmental factors. For many, ADHD is not a static diagnosis but a dynamic condition with periods of remission and recurrence—a finding that offers both hope and a more nuanced understanding of the disorder.
Autism and the Cuteness Effect: A Deeper Dive into Social Perception and Attention
What makes something “cute”?
For most of us, it’s the irresistible features of a baby’s face—big eyes, round cheeks, and a small nose—or the playful antics of a puppy or kitten.
These traits trigger the cuteness effect, a universal response hardwired into human biology to draw attention and evoke caregiving behaviors.
But how do children on the autism spectrum experience this phenomenon?
A recent study published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders explored this question, uncovering nuanced differences in how autistic children engage with cute imagery based on the severity of their symptoms.