An overloaded car packed full of belongings, representing the idea of asking one relationship to carry more weight than it can hold - are we asking too much? There's a particular kind of loneliness that settles into a relationship: the loneliness of feeling unseen by the one person who's supposed to know you best. It's one of the most painful experiences a couple can have, and it's becoming increasingly common. But why? Many of the couples I work with are committed, caring, a

Emotional unavailability is a phrase we often hear in therapy rooms, on social media, and in conversations about relationships. Yet many people aren’t fully sure what it means — or why it happens. Emotional unavailability isn’t about being cold, uncaring, or incapable of love. More often, it’s a form of protection. It develops from lived experiences, attachment patterns, cultural expectations, neurodivergence, or past relational wounds. And while it can create distance in rel