Struggles with emotional expression, conflict avoidance, or managing disagreements.

Difficulty breaking cycles of criticism, shutdown, or passive-aggressiveness.

Mismatched libidos, differing levels of interest in monogamy vs. open relationships.

Conflicts around kink, porn use, or evolving sexual needs.

Negotiating boundaries around open relationships, threesomes, or polyamory.

Handling jealousy, insecurity, or betrayal when boundaries are unclear or broken.

Struggles to access or express deeper feelings due to social conditioning (e.g., stoicism, fear of weakness).

Feeling emotionally disconnected or distant despite physical closeness.

Emotional or physical affairs, secrecy, or breaches of relationship agreements.

Addressing how trust is earned, broken, and repaired—especially when the couple is non-monogamous.

Shame around sex, affection, or identity showing up in subtle ways.

Fear of "being too much" or "not doing it right" in relationships, shaped by childhood experiences.

Dynamics around dominance/submission, financial power, or emotional control.

Sometimes masked as competition or covert one-upmanship.

Disagreements about how open to be with family, friends, or coworkers.

One partner may still be closeted, affecting visibility and inclusion.

Declining intimacy or “bed death,” especially after years together.

Exploring how to keep the erotic connection alive while maintaining emotional closeness.

Coping with societal discrimination, homophobia, or lack of cultural models for long-term, or unique gay relationships.

The relationship carrying the weight of being both a source of intimacy and identity validation.