Irina Zhuravleva

“I was thinking earlier—do you want more sexual intimacy between us?” “Sorry, what do you mean by sexual intimacy?” “Like, do you want us to...

When someone says they want “closure,” I tend to be wary—often what they really mean is they’re still obsessively in love with someone and are...

Many people point out that relationship advice doesn’t help in abusive situations or with narcissists, and that observation is valid: guidance meant for mutual partnerships...

I kept getting into the same pointless arguments over the same stupid dishes until I finally saw that the disputes weren’t really about plates at...

Okay — let’s address this right now. I’m speaking directly to you. You’re here because it feels like your words keep hitting a brick wall,...

All right — how can you tell if something you said actually hurt your partner? That’s a vital question, because too many of us, myself...

Being avoidant in relationships isn’t only the obvious signs — refusing to commit, swinging between warmth and coldness, disappearing when conversations about commitment start. You...

Silence takes over. An unseen barrier slams into place. Every part of you wants to act—fix it, fill the gap, restore connection. You grab your...

One subject that gets surprisingly little attention from trauma clinicians is how childhood wounds and prolonged trauma can lead to chronic under-earning. For many of...

There really is a phenomenon in our world that people commonly call evil, and I don’t hear enough discussion about it among trauma professionals. It...

Come on — can we stop griping that a marriage-advice video is “too long” when it’s literally only three minutes? In a culture addicted to...

Okay — today I want to cover how to argue with a narcissist and actually come out on top, because few things are more maddening...

There is a strange paradox in human relationships that only a few truly understand. Often the instant you stop pursuing someone is the moment they...

That’s an important question and one that will touch a lot of people: why are narcissists often blamed instead of being seen as wounded humans...

Research shows that the way couples repair conflicts can determine the fate of their relationship, so it’s important to know how to apologize well. Imagine...

Most women pick up on it, yet very few voice it: female friendships can carry a set of unwritten rules. These expectations aren’t posted anywhere...

There is a form of silence that at first does not feel peaceful—it carries weight. It’s like standing alone in an emptied room that once...

If what you most deeply want is a steady, authentic love, honor that desire — it’s what you are meant to have. If you were...

Below are additional practical steps, scripts, and safeguards you can use if you decide to explore reconnection — tools to help you stay grounded, protect...

Okay, gentlemen — let’s have a conversation about teasing our partners. I enjoy a good laugh as much as anyone, but here’s a simple guideline...

There’s a repeating dynamic that quietly destroys many women’s lives, and it often goes unnoticed. You’re intelligent. You work hard. You’ve put effort into personal...

Many people insist that they should never have to change for their partner. To be clear: change is often necessary. As Tim Keller observes in...

Few things shape the quality of life more than the condition of our closest relationships. Keep in mind that a year from now your relational...

Do you ever notice something almost nobody will admit aloud? Some of the cruelest forms of harm in close relationships are quiet, nonphysical, and they...