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

The Covert Narcissist Code: 26 Ways to decode your spouse's sneaky behavior

Welcome, gentle readers, to a guide that might just save your sanity (and your marriage)!

As a couples therapist, I've seen my fair share of narcissistic behavior, especially the sneaky kind.

Covert Narcissists can be charming on the surface but manipulative underneath, making them tricky to spot.

But fear not, I'm here to help you navigate these murky waters with 26 telltale signs that your spouse might be a Covert Narcissist.

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What is entraining a narcissist?

Entraining a narcissist refers to the process of synchronizing their behavior, thoughts, or emotions with those of another person or a group.

This concept is often used in the context of managing or influencing the behavior of someone with narcissistic traits.

Here's a more detailed explanation…

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Do genetic factors influence alcohol sensitivity and addiction risk?

Some people’s brains respond quite differently to alcohol.

New research suggests that folks who are more sensitive to alcohol’s pleasurable effects are more likely to become alcoholics.

A 10-year study of young adult drinkers found that future alcoholics experience greater stimulation, liking, and wanting for alcohol than others.

People who go on to become addicted to alcohol do not get used to its effects, as most people do.

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The 6 research arguments in praise of moderate alcohol consumption

Alcohol consumption, when done in moderation, has been linked to a variety of benefits, including improved cognitive function, enhanced attractiveness, and a reduced risk of certain diseases.

However, the research community has shifted to a more skeptical and measured discussion of the research suggesting the benefits of moderate alcohol consumption.

Here's an objective, closer look at some of the contrarian findings on the benefits of moderate alcohol intake from recent research…

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Alcohol and the cerebral cortex

The more alcohol people drink, the greater the damage to the cerebral cortex. High alcohol intake can lead to a thinner cerebral cortex, research finds.

The cerebral cortex is the layer of neurons that support most higher-level cognition. However, the brain damage caused by drinking is not an all-or-nothing phenomenon.

The more people drank, the greater the damage to this area of the brain. The irony is that alcohol damages the very areas of the brain that are responsible for controlling alcohol intake.

However, people who had been alcoholics but now abstained showed the brain can recover.

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Is it ever too late to save a marriage?

Older American couples endure more than six years of misery before seeking help.

It’s like driving your wheels over and over in the same place so often that you’ve worn deep ruts into the marital driveway.

The sooner you enter couples therapy, the better. This is one of the reasons why Millennials enjoy such a delightfully low divorce rate.

They pursue couples therapy at the first sign of trouble. And they do so earlier than any other recorded generation…

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Ozempic and impulse control: When diabetes meds make you dance on the table

So, you’re on Ozempic to manage your diabetes or shed those pesky pounds, and suddenly you’re finding yourself in some rather…interesting situations.

Maybe you’re gambling more, indulging in public displays of affection (or more), or even eyeing divorce as a shiny new start.

As a couples therapist, I’ve started hearing more of these tales, and it’s making me wonder: What’s going on with Ozempic and impulse control?

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