Dr Elaine Ryan

The quality and ultimate success of adult relationships depend on choosing the correct person and working on your partnership and how you relate to others. According to attachment theory, the quality of care and bond developed with your primary caregiver shapes future interactions into adulthood, including romantic relationships. I first became interested in Bowlby’s attachment…

Narcissistic abuse starts after a honeymoon period when you will have felt at the centre of the other person’s world. You might have spotted signs that the person can be cold, argumentative and selfish, but as this was not consistent behaviour and you were in the honeymoon period, you overlooked it. The perpetrator of narcissistic…

Emotional abuse in your relationship can go undetected for years before you put a label on it. Physical abuse, if your partner hits you, is plain to see. The second it occurs, you know it happened and can decide what to do about it, but when you cannot physically see abuse, it can be shocking…

What is gaslighting? Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation in which a person attempts to make another person question their perception of reality and mental health. The person can do this by denying that something was said or done or by treating the victim as if they are crazy. Gaslighting can also involve: The…