As a couple therapist in Toronto, I’m sometimes asked about what to do if you want to go to marriage therapy or couple’s counselling but your partner refuses. Does relationship therapy work if only one person attends? At first glance, you might think that the answer is obvious—after all, how can you do couple therapy with only one …
It’s that time of year, when folks are making resolutions. This is despite the fact that research shows that the vast majority of people will relapse into their old behaviour within a few months. It’s enough to make you wonder, are New Year’s resolutions even worth it? As an individual, couple and sex therapist in …
Discovering that your partner has been unfaithful is absolutely devastating. People who realize that their partner has been involved with someone else often feel as if their world has shattered. They feel hurt, angry, and confused. Or alternatively they may feel numb, as if nothing is quite real. Either way, the world they knew before, …
East Toronto Therapy is pleased to introduce a new member of the team, Associate Psychotherapist Justin Pinksen. Although new to East Toronto Therapy, Justin has extensive experience providing counselling and therapy services in a variety of settings. As a Registered Social Worker, Justin has training and experience in supporting individuals with concerns such as anxiety, …
While many of the couples I work with talk about the challenges of maintaining a close emotional relationship over time, couples with children often seem to have the biggest challenge in this regard. Research supports this, indicating that relationship satisfaction declines after having children. Many of the couples I see describe feeling like they are …
Making a presentation at work, introducing yourself to a new neighbor, or attending a social gathering: How do you feel in these situations? While many people experience some amount of discomfort in social situations from time to time, for people with social anxiety these types of events can lead to intense feelings of distress. People …
Non-monogamy, or having an open relationship, refers to a relationship in which the partners have agreed that the relationship is not monogamous. In a blog post last year, I wrote about open relationships and whether or not they are a real option for a long-term relationship (spoiler: sometimes they work and sometimes they don’t, just …
Many of the sex therapy clients I work with report feelings of shame in relation to sex. In some cases, the shame is linked to a religious upbringing. Although the message to wait until marriage for sex does not have to be a negative one, for many people this message is conveyed in a way …
In my previous post, I discussed anxiety in general. In this post, I’ll discuss anxiety specifically in relation to sex. Anxiety and sexual dysfunction go hand in hand. Whatever the sexual difficulty (low desire, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, delayed ejaculation, pelvic pain, or inability to orgasm) anxiety is usually involved to some degree. In some …
What is anxiety? Anxiety refers to worry, fear, or the sense that something bad may happen. Anxiety isn’t always negative. It can serve as a warning system, calling our attention to danger. Anxiety may help us avoid dangerous situations or exercise extra caution, thereby protecting us from negative consequences. However, anxiety can also be harmful …
