Uncertainty is largely an inherent experience in the process of self-discovery, and so it is unsurprising that it is a theme woven throughout parts of the therapeutic process. Whether starting therapy for the first time or starting again with a different therapist, themes of uncertainty can be present from the very beginning.

Dating shows have become a cultural phenomenon, captivating audiences worldwide with their blend of romance, drama, and unexpected twists. From the thrill of vicarious experiences and the comfort of escapism to the insights gained through social comparison and the appeal of intimacy, these shows offer significant emotional and cognitive engagement.

In an ideal world, we would all have conversations about consensual non-monogamy with ourselves even before we went into relationships, and have contracts and questionnaires before engaging in them, but life is often not so regimented. So why is consensual non-monogamy so fascinating for people? For many, it may be the fantasy of having deep emotional and sexual intimacy with more than one person. It may be the prospect of discovering new aspects of your identity and exploring the multitudes within the self. It may be the enjoyment one may receive at witnessing one’s partner experience pleasure, known in the poly world as compersion, or the opposite of jealousy. Or it may be a desire for the “new relationship energy” (the flood of dopamine and oxytocin to the brain also known as limerence) that happens when you first start dating and becoming intimate with a new partner.

‘Baby Reindeer’ is a Netflix drama which has recently captivated a global audience, earning wild praise from both critics and viewers alike. What makes this series so compelling is not just the frightening stalking relationship dynamic portrayed in it, but the fact that it has managed to capture and portray the most primitive parts of all of our conflicts and yearnings in relationships that we are both repelled and fascinated by. All of us, on some deep level, can at times identify with and understand the powerful desires that drive the behaviors of Donny and Martha because all of their behaviors are driven by a deep longing for connection. We are all driven towards connection, even sometimes when it is unhealthy or pathological. Yet, it is impossible to understand the relationship between Donny and all of these characters without understanding how trauma shapes attachment and how the most undesirable of our feelings and urges can get transferred and contained within a relationship.

Tom and Jerry. Sylvester and Tweety. Elmer Fudd and Bugs Bunny. These famous unlikely couples exemplify the tortured relationship prototype of pursuit and flight. Relationships like these may often reflect an underlying ambivalent attachment of childhood. Children who are ambivalently attached tend to be extremely suspicious of strangers. These children display considerable distress when separated from a parent or caregiver, but do not seem reassured or comforted by the return of the parent. In some cases, the child might passively reject the parent by refusing comfort, or may openly display direct aggression toward the parent.

Some people struggle in relationships. They just do. There are a few that can't quite seem to manage to begin them, and there are those who just can't seem to manage to sustain them. If you are one of the folks for whom this is true, here are a few things to think about.

By recognizing the behavior of child sexual predators, and by understanding the factors that leave children vulnerable to sexual abuse, parents can gain greater control in protecting their children from child sexual abuse.

For these narcissistic parents, the child is groomed to be a trophy, a symbol of the parent's success and specialness, to be admired and envied in the way that the parent would wish for him or herself. The child, in this way, serves as a source of narcissistic supply for the parent.