One example of my Bridging work is helping two people move out of blame and defensiveness and into a space of understanding. Rather than staying stuck in who is “right” or “wrong,” I guide each person to connect with their own feelings and needs, and then communicate these in a way the other can truly hear. This creates a bridge between them, where empathy replaces conflict and a deeper connection becomes possible.

I spoke about this approach in more depth when I appeared on the Psychosexual Therapy podcast alongside Denise Van Outen and Eddie Boxshall, where we explored how Bridging works in practice and how couples can begin to shift out of conflict and into connection.

I also appeared on The Love Twats Podcast with Bibi Lynch and Guy Lloyd, where we spoke about dating, relationship patterns and the emotional blocks that can keep us stuck. During the conversation I gently asked Bibi whether there might be ways she was unconsciously protecting herself from intimacy or even sabotaging connection, something she wasn’t entirely sure about at the time.

Bibi shared that although she had been going on dates, they were rarely turning into relationships. She spoke about sometimes turning up wearing her dad’s old jumper and carrying a bag that said “Back Off”, which opened up an interesting conversation about the subtle signals we can send without realising it. At one point Bibi asked whether that meant she couldn’t simply be herself. I explained that the intention isn’t to change who you are, but to become aware of the protective patterns we all develop and consider whether they are still helping us when we want connection.

After the podcast, Bibi reflected further on our conversation. As she moved into a relationship, she reached out again for support, and we explored how a part of her that may have previously pushed partners away might respond now its role had changed. Together, we looked at how to recognise that part with compassion, rather than judgement, and how to work with it so it no longer needed to protect her in the same way.

She later wrote openly about her experience of being single since 1997 in her Good Housekeeping feature, and I was delighted to hear that she has since gone on to find a partner.

Journalist Marianne Power also wrote about attending one of my flirting workshops in Red Magazine, sharing how the experience helped her reconnect with playfulness, confidence and a greater openness to connection. In the article, she reflects on how the exercises encouraged her to step outside her comfort zone, let go of self-consciousness and approach dating with more authenticity and curiosity. Her experience highlights how creating a safe space for exploration and connection can help people move beyond fear and self-protection, allowing them to engage with others in a more natural and joyful way.

I also joined BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour to discuss sex and intimacy in midlife. Drawing on my work as a psychosexual therapist and couples counsellor, I shared insights into the three main types of sex that tend to emerge in long-term relationships and how our needs around intimacy often evolve as we get older. We explored why emotional connection, communication and feeling safe with a partner can become increasingly important in our forties and beyond, and why this deeper, more connected form of intimacy is often the most satisfying in later life.