The Importance of Queer Friendships and How to Cultivate Them
Hey, let’s talk about something vital—queer friendships. These bonds are not just about having a buddy who identifies like you; they transcend the rigid cultural norms of friendships. Queer friendships are raw, liberating experiences that open doors not just to acceptance but to thriving in a world that sometimes tries to cage us in.
“What is Compersion?” Insights from Marie Thouin's Unique Training
Finding joy in your partner's happiness, even when it doesn't directly involve you, can be a rewarding experience. This concept is known as compersion. While it may not be mainstream yet, compersion is gaining traction in therapy and relationship counseling.
Spice up Your Love Life with These Tips for Introducing Kink to Your Relationship
In a world where relationships are constantly evolving, keeping your romantic life fresh and exciting can feel like a challenge. One way to add a little spice is by introducing kink into your relationship.
Love and Leashes: A Lighthearted Introduction to Kink and BDSM on Netflix
When it comes to exploring kink, communication between partners is crucial. Talking about incorporating kink involves reestablishing needs and boundaries which, in turn, can offer partners an experience built off of trust and vulnerability.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy: A Safer Approach to Healing
In recent years, ketamine has emerged as a powerful tool in the treatment of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health conditions. Though once known primarily as an anesthetic and, unfortunately, as a party drug, research has revealed its profound therapeutic potential when used in the right settings.
FAQ: Common Questions About Kink and BDSM Answered
Welcome to our FAQ on kink and BDSM, designed to address the burning questions you might have about exploring these vibrant and diverse aspects of human sexuality. At Rouse Relational Wellness in San Francisco, we understand that curiosity about kink can spark a mix of excitement and apprehension.
How to Show Your Friends You Care with a Grand Gesture
In our bustling, fast-paced, chaotic world, it’s easy to get swept away in the whirlwind of daily routines and responsibilities. Often, we reserve grand gestures for romantic or familial relationships, inadvertently overlooking the profound importance of our friendships.
Lines of Love: Establishing Boundaries in Polyamorous Relationships
Navigating relationships can be complex, and polyamorous relationships add another layer of intricacy. Boundaries are essential in any relationship, whether monogamous or polyamorous, to ensure all parties feel respected, valued, and safe.
9 Ways to Build Trust in Poly Relationships
Welcome to "9 Ways to Build Trust in Poly Relationships," a comprehensive guide authored by a licensed marriage and family therapist from Rouse Relational Wellness. Rouse is a boutique couples and sex therapy practice based in San Francisco, dedicated to supporting diverse relationship structures with compassion and expertise.
7 Common Challenges in Polyamorous Relationships and How to Overcome Them
Polyamorous relationships, where individuals have multiple consensual relationships simultaneously, can be incredibly rewarding and yet uniquely challenging. Addressing these challenges head-on is crucial for maintaining healthy and fulfilling connections. Below, we explore seven common challenges in polyamorous relationships and provide practical tips to overcome them.
Understanding and Evolving Your Attachment Style
Consider the story of Emma, a young woman who once struggled with insecure attachment patterns that hindered her personal relationships. Emma often found herself worrying that she was either clingy and overdependent or emotionally detached and unsure of how close she wanted to be to others. Recognizing these patterns as obstacles to her happiness, she began her journey of self-discovery and healing.
The Role of the Amygdala in Shaping Relationships
Understanding the intricate workings of the brain, particularly the amygdala, offers invaluable insights into the dynamics of our relationships. This blog post delves into the pivotal role the amygdala plays in emotional processing and how it influences attachment styles and conflict resolution.
“I love you, don’t touch me”
If you’re like most people, you probably don’t think about your attachment style until something goes wrong in your relationship. But for some people, feeling disconnected from their partner can lead to hyper-focusing on the relationship and sometimes sideways attempts to get attention from their partner. However, these sideways attempts often leave the other partner turned off and pulling away from the relationship.
Does this mean you’re doomed to this cycle forever? Not necessarily! We can do a few things to change our approach to building healthier ways of showing up in our relationships. One of those things is learning about what happens when our attachment to those close to us feels threatened.
Jealousy in Polyamorous Relationships: Understanding, Communicating, and Coping
Jealousy is a common emotion in all types of relationships, but it can present unique challenges in polyamorous dynamics. By addressing jealousy directly and constructively, you can maintain healthy and fulfilling connections with all your partners.
Possibilities in the Air.
Pride is upon us, the time when myriad LGBTQIA identities, and allies show up to fill the San Francisco streets with laughter, “looks'', affection, and connection. Although the pandemic paused Pride for the past two years, the Pride traditions are very familiar – the making of eye contact with a stranger while marching to Dolores, the debauchery with new and old friends, flirtatious movements on the dance floor and, for those that are fortunate, new sexual experiences.
Sexual Wellness and Empowerment: A Guide for LGBTQ+ Individuals
This guide aims to provide insights into sexual wellness, the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, and practical tips for achieving a fulfilling and empowered sexual life.
Reactive Dating in Polyamory: Strategies for Healthy Relationships
In polyamory, multiple loves and connections are celebrated, and maintaining healthy relationships requires clear communication, self-awareness, and mutual respect. However, even within this inclusive framework, complexities can arise. One such complexity is "reactive dating."
Navigating Polyamorous Relationships: How Couples Therapy Can Help
While polyamory isn't for everyone, it does not always offer relational bliss for those it works for. Polyamorous relationships can be both rewarding and challenging. For many, the journey toward a fulfilling multi-partner relationship involves growth, communication, and understanding. Couples therapy offers valuable support, helping partners develop the skills to foster healthy, loving connections.
Mindful Bonds: A Journey of Inner Exploration at the Men's Retreat
Set against the tranquil backdrop of the historic Jikoji Zen Center in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the Mindful Bonds men's retreat offered a unique blend of serenity, introspection, and community. With a carefully curated itinerary designed to foster personal growth and connection, this retreat stands out as a pivotal point for many in their quest to understand themselves and improve their relationships.
Breaking The Silence: Understanding and Addressing Mental Health in the United States
In the landscape of health and well-being, mental health has often taken a back seat, shrouded in silence and shadowed by stigma. Yet, the reality is that mental health is an integral part of our overall health, deserving of the same attention, compassion, and care as physical health.