The Madonna-Whore Complex is a psychological phenomenon first identified by Sigmund Freud and defined as an inability to maintain sexual arousal within a committed and loving relationship. Listen to learn more! For 35 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a contributing writer to P…

The first step in having more fun dating is to create a life worth living. The next step is to treat dating as a recreational activity—not a desperate search for someone to rescue you from your loneliness. For 35 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a contributing writer to Psycho…

Healthy relationships largely depend on whether both people have done the necessary internal work. For 35 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a contributing writer to Psychology Today and the author of two books on sexuality: We're All Like This and Get Busy Living. He is the cre…

Most people rush into a committed relationship without fully understanding what they're committing to. The path to commitment should be taken slowly and based on intention. This allows couples to greatly increase their odds of building a fulfilling relationship that lasts. For 35 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with…

Zoey is an author, relationship theorist, coach, and entrepreneur. Her area of expertise is helping people achieve their goals – whether that’s in love or in their work. She’s spent nearly two decades decoding the patterns of human attraction, pulling from her background in criminology, data analytics, client service, and a relentless drive to chal…

Many couples seek therapy believing they have communication problems, but the real issues run deeper. For 35 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a contributing writer to Psychology Today and the author of two books on sexuality: We're All Like This and Get Busy Living. He is the …

Some deal breakers are universal, like abuse, while others are personal, like wanting to date someone who hikes. By having some flexibility with your "personal" deal breakers, you open yourself up to dating people who may surprise you. For 35 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a…

Examining the wreckage of a romance that went awry takes a lot of courage, but if you do the work, the rewards are infinite. For 35 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a contributing writer to Psychology Today and the author of two books on sexuality: We're All Like This and Get …

When you hold a relationship loosely, you get to enjoy the relationship without desperately clinging to it, and if it doesn't work out, which most relationships don't, you will be okay. For 35 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a contributing writer to Psychology Today and the a…

Many people irrationally believe variables such as age, religion, and politics are indicators of whether or not a relationship will work. None of these variables matter; what matters is character and compatibility. For 35 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a contributing writer …

You don't always have to ask for what you want; it's sometimes more effective to tell someone—not necessarily what you want from them, but what you want out of life and what you want out of a relationship. For 35 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a contributing writer to Psycho…

When it comes to relationships, many people don't know what's on the menu. This is often due to our irrational beliefs surrounding love. These beliefs hold us back from building the type of relationship we can all admire. Listen to learn more. For 35 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work.…

Embracing the sacred and profane in your partner allows you to see them for who they really are—and we are all so much more than just one thing. For 35 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a contributing writer to Psychology Today and the author of two books on sexuality: We're Al…

Makeup sex isn't about making up; it's about a temporary truce while we take care of our physical needs. For 35 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a contributing writer to Psychology Today and the author of two books on sexuality: We're All Like This and Get Busy Living. He is t…

Taking accountability in your love life allows you to grow, gain wisdom, break out of stuck patterns, become more assertive, and live a happier life. For 35 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a contributing writer to Psychology Today and the author of two books on sexuality: We'…

The intimacy ladder is a concept that allows people to slowly, steadily, and safely get to know one another. Remember, intimacy is not sex; it's the ability to safely share our lives together. For 35 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a contributing writer to Psychology Today an…

If you have a history of dating partners who aren't quite right for you, you might have an "impaired picker." Listen to learn more! For 35 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a contributing writer to Psychology Today and the author of two books on sexuality: We're All Like This a…

A safe relationship is free of abuse. Abuse, at any level, destroys a couple's ability to engage in successful and productive problem-solving. It is perhaps the single most self-defeating behavior in relationships. For 35 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a contributing writer …

Your pain upon breaking up will be directly proportional to the degree to which you've compromised your terms. Listen to learn more. For 35 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a contributing writer to Psychology Today and the author of two books on sexuality: We're All Like This …

Steve explains why seeking understanding is more beneficial than seeking forgiveness. For 35 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a contributing writer to Psychology Today and the author of two books on sexuality: We're All Like This and Get Busy Living. He is the creator and host…

If you're not feeling happy and/or loved in your relationship, it's time to book an appointment with a therapist. For 35 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a contributing writer to Psychology Today and the author of two books on sexuality: We're All Like This and Get Busy Living…

If you want to increase your odds of finding the "right" partner, understanding mate selection is mission critical. For 35 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a contributing writer to Psychology Today and the author of two books on sexuality: We're All Like This and Get Busy Livi…

The prevailing narrative is that relationships are hard work. However, they don't have to be so difficult. Listen to learn more. For 35 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a contributing writer to Psychology Today and the author of two books on sexuality: We're All Like This and …

Repression is a great tool for temporary management, like a tourniquet on a wound that’s bleeding, but repression as a lifestyle is a curse. For 35 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a contributing writer to Psychology Today and the author of two books on sexuality: We're All Li…

The three rules for "fair fighting" include no abuse, by mutual consent, and any one subject. Conflict is, after all, an essential and inevitable part of every intimate relationship. Listen to learn more! For 35 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a contributing writer to Psychol…

There is nothing wrong with being needy; we all have needs and will continue to have them for the rest of our lives. The problem occurs when our neediness becomes pathological and starts to control our lives. For 35 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a contributing writer to Psy…

A negative body image directed towards yourself and/or your partner can be detrimental to building and sustaining a safe, intimate, and loving relationship. For 35 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a contributing writer to Psychology Today and the author of two books on sexuali…

Loving someone is not all we need to build and maintain a successful relationship. We also need to slow down and take our time to really get to know the other person. For over 30 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a contributing writer to Psychology Today and the author of two b…

Today’s episode was inspired by the book The Way of the Superior Man: A Spiritual Guide to Mastering the Challenges of Women, Work, and Sexual Desire. The book was written by David Deida and published in 1997. We read through various passages of the book and discuss how they relate to managing love intelligently. For over 30 years, Steven Ing, MFT,…

Understanding personality disorders (paranoid, narcissistic, antisocial, etc.) can give you valuable insights into yourself and your partner and help you manage love intelligently. For over 30 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a contributing writer to Psychology Today and the a…

Practical dating advice for men, which women, too, can benefit from hearing. You don’t need to read hundreds of books or watch hours of videos on this topic. It’s all quite simple. Tune in to learn more. For over 30 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a contributing writer to Psy…

In today's episode, we review the article “Going ‘Boy Sober’ Is About More Than Celibacy" in relation to managing love intelligently. The article was written by Anne Branigin and published in The Washington Post. The subhead reads, "Young people are reexamining their relationships with sex and dating amid a toxic online dating culture and an increa…

Sex is all around us (internet, advertising, media); however, as a society, we don't really know how to talk about it. Tune in to today's episode to learn how becoming comfortable with this important topic can result in a healthier society. For over 30 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic wor…

Today's episode was inspired by The New York Times Guest Essay by Hillary Kelly titled “Welcome to Stucktopia.” The essay opens by discussing some popular TV shows, such as Fallout, Severance, and Silo, and how these shows capture the way life feels right now, which is that we are stuck. We read through the essay and apply this idea of being "stuck…

It's a fundamental thinking error to think that verbal abuse in relationships is normal. We all deserve to be treated with respect, courtesy, and dignity. Listen to today's episode to learn more! For over 30 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a contributing writer to Psychology …

Learn how setting, defending, and acting on your boundaries empowers your life. For over 30 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a contributing writer to Psychology Today and the author of two books on sexuality: We're All Like This and Get Busy Living. He is the creator and host …

When it comes to our fantasy about what marriage can be like, our fantasy is that we wouldn't have to keep things from our spouse at all. The question is “How can I make the relationship safe enough for my mate to be as honest as humanly possible.” For over 30 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in fore…

Understanding the Sacred Bubble allows you and your partner to form a sacred connection or bubble, where all of life's problems are outside of the bubble. This allows couples to resolve any conflicts in a safe, effective, and abuse-free manner, so they can get back to producing the only thing worth producing in a relationship: happiness. For over 3…

We don't need a girlfriend or boyfriend; we need the RIGHT girlfriend or boyfriend. If someone rejects us, they are not the RIGHT girlfriend or boyfriend. None of us crave to be with someone who doesn't love us. Listen to learn more! For over 30 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He i…

Some people have sexuality in one compartment of their brain and spirituality in another compartment. Therefore, the two compartments never talk to each other. Integrating spirituality and sexuality, gets these two compartments talking to each other. Listen to today's episode to learn more. For over 30 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage an…

Today's episode discusses gender roles in relationships. It was inspired by the NBC News article "Some dating coaches online are pushing women to seek more traditional gender roles" by Angela Yang. For over 30 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a contributing writer to Psycholog…

Steve responds to a message from a person calling themselves "Alone." Note: the message was in response to Steve's Psychology Today article "How to Keep an Incel from Becoming a Sex Offender." For over 30 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a contributing writer to Psychology Tod…

The belief that "love conquers all" is an unfortunate and harmful fallacy. We cannot love our partners into wellness; we cannot love our partners into sobriety; we cannot love our partners into no longer being emotionally, physically, or spiritually abusive. For over 30 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a special…

Your magic sex number is the ideal number of sexual encounters you require on a weekly basis to feel your best. Listen to learn more and how knowing your magic sex number can help you manage love intelligently. For over 30 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a contributing writer…

Join us for an open discussion on whether men and women can be friends. For over 30 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a contributing writer to Psychology Today and the author of two books on sexuality: We're All Like This and Get Busy Living. He is the creator and host of the t…

If you want real love, let your partner know who you really are and what you really think. For over 30 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a contributing writer to Psychology Today and the author of two books on sexuality: We're All Like This and Get Busy Living. He is the creato…

If you dislike online dating as much as Steve and are interested in shifting your approach to meeting potential partners, this episode is for you. For over 30 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is a contributing writer to Psychology Today and the author of two books on sexuality: W…

The subject of "sexual intimacy" is so much bigger than just "doing it” with our partners. True sexual intimacy allows couples to safely share and express the full spectrum of their sexuality with one another. Listen to learn more. For over 30 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialty in forensic work. He is …

The main idea behind "120 Days of Narcissistic Love" is that when you fall in love with a new lover, the things that you love about this person are the things you love about yourself. Tune in to learn more and how becoming aware of this phenomenon can help you manage love intelligently. For over 30 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has been a Marriage and Fa…

Learning how to resolve the conflicts that are keeping us apart is one of the best ways to develop intimacy. Conflict, after all, is an essential and inevitable part of every intimate relationship. In today's episode, you will learn how to engage in conflict in an intelligent, healthy, and abuse-free manner. For over 30 years, Steven Ing, MFT, has …