Welcome to my Blog

Thank you for stopping by. This space is where I share research, reflections, and practical tools drawn from my experience as a marriage and family therapist.

Are you a couple looking for clarity? A professional curious about the science of relationships? Or simply someone interested in how love and resilience work? I’m glad you’ve found your way here. I can help with that.

Each post is written with one goal in mind: to help you better understand yourself, your partner, and the hidden dynamics that shape human connection.

Grab a coffee (or a notebook), explore what speaks to you, and take what’s useful back into your life and relationships. And if a post sparks a question, or makes you realize you could use more support, I’d love to hear from you.

Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.
~Daniel

P.S.

Feel free to explore the categories below to find past blog posts on the topics that matter most to you. If you’re curious about attachment, navigating conflict, or strengthening intimacy, these archives are a great way to dive deeper into the research and insights that I’ve been sharing for years.

 

Signs of Trouble Daniel Dashnaw Signs of Trouble Daniel Dashnaw

A Loneliness Quiz…

Discover the alarming findings from recent research at the 125th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association.

Learn about chronic loneliness's staggering impact on public health and society and explore strategies to combat this growing issue.

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Trauma Bonding vs. Love…

Distinguishing between trauma bonding and authentic love is paramount for emotional well-being and fulfillment.

Prominent thought leaders in trauma psychology and relationship dynamics, including Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, Dr. Peter Levine, and Dr. Sue Johnson, have a lot to say about the disparity between these two phenomena lies at the core of healthy versus unhealthy connections.

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Is My Mom a Narcissist Quiz…

Understanding the traits and behaviors associated with narcissistic mothers is crucial for adult children seeking clarity and validation in their experiences.

Let’s talk about narcissistic mothers, drawing insights from thought leaders in psychology and offering an original quiz to help you assess whether your mother exhibits narcissistic tendencies.

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Pitbull Husbands

Gottman is not only renowned for science-based couples therapy, he also studied dangerous men a few decades ago.

His research describes the dangerous, suspicious, controlling, character that he calls the “Pitbull”…

Why is the Pitbull partner so profoundly dangerous? And how is he different from the “Cobra”?

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What is Monkey Branching?

Monkey branching, a term coined to describe a behavior observed in primates, notably monkeys swinging from one branch to another without letting go of the first, finds its analogy in human relationships.

Some folks hold on to a current partner while they seek to climb higher with another.

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What is Emotional Inflammation?

Emotional inflammation, though not a term that has been extensively researched in scientific literature, is a concept that draws from both psychological and physiological domains.

It is often used metaphorically to describe a state of heightened emotional arousal or reactivity, akin to the body's inflammatory response to physical injury or illness…

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