What's Love got To Do with It?

Empty Nest: Rediscovering Your Relationship After the Kids Have Grown

Apr 20, 2025

 

Hi there,
If you're reading this, chances are life feels a little different lately. The house is quieter. Dinner for two has replaced the chaos of family meals. And the roles you’ve held for decades—mum, dad, taxi driver, cheer squad, organiser of everything—have shifted overnight.

You’ve done your job beautifully. You’ve raised children, launched them into the world, and now... it’s just the two of you again.
But what happens when that silence starts to feel louder than you expected?

The Hidden Toll of the Empty Nest

For many couples, the empty nest brings a mix of emotions—relief, pride, freedom… but also grief, loneliness, and uncertainty.
You might be asking:

  • Who are we now, without the kids?

  • Why does it feel like we’re just roommates sharing a house?

  • Why don’t we talk—or touch—like we used to?

The truth is, this stage of life is one of the biggest relationship transitions we go through. Without the day-to-day distractions of parenting, what’s left is just th...

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How My Partner and I Rekindled Our Love

Feb 02, 2025

I'm a relationship therapist who experienced a separation. The question I am asked the most is "How did you save your own marriage?" Here's my honest answer....

This year will be 32 years since we first fell in love. It feels surreal to think about how much time has passed, and while I wish I could say it's been a simple, happily-ever-after love story, the reality is far more colourful.

We've had our fair share of ups and downs, and yes, at about the 18 year mark things fell apart. There were long moments when we couldn’t quite find each other, times when our connection slipped away, and loneliness crept into places that once held joy. The distance wasn't just physical; it was emotional too—a vast canyon that seemed impossible to bridge.

In those stretches, doubt would whisper in my ear, telling me that maybe this was it, that perhaps we had grown too far apart to ever find our way back. The pain of disconnection was sharp and unrelenting, filled with misunderstandings and unmet exp...

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5 Signs It's An Emotional Affair

Dec 01, 2024

 An emotional affair might not involve physical intimacy, but it can be just as damaging to your relationship. These connections often form gradually and may even feel innocent at first, but they can create deep emotional rifts between you and your partner. So, how can you tell if you or your partner are crossing the line? Here are five signs to watch for:

1. Emotional Intimacy Outside the Relationship

Sharing your deepest thoughts, feelings, and vulnerabilities with someone other than your partner can signal an emotional affair. If this person becomes your go-to confidant, and you feel a stronger emotional bond with them than with your partner, it's a red flag. Intimacy is the foundation of committed relationships, and redirecting that connection elsewhere can harm the bond with your partner.

2. Secrecy and Deception

Are you keeping your connection a secret? Deleting messages, hiding interactions, or feeling the need to downplay the relationship's importance to your partner are cl...

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How Couples Unintentionally Hurt Each Other

Jun 01, 2023

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it's easy to overlook the small yet powerful ways in which we unknowingly reject our partners. These seemingly insignificant actions, if left unaddressed, can gradually erode the foundation of love and connection within our relationships. Learn the subtle but detrimental ways we reject each other daily and the long-term effects they can have on our relationships.

  1. Ignoring Emotional Needs: One of the subtle ways we inadvertently reject our partners is by dismissing or invalidating their feelings. When we fail to acknowledge or empathise with their emotions, we send a message that their inner world is insignificant. Over time, this can lead to a sense of isolation, resentment, and emotional distance between partners.

  2. Withholding Communication: Silence can be just as damaging as hurtful words. When we avoid open and honest communication, we deny our partners the opportunity to be heard and understood. This withholding of communication

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