Laura Stannard Sex & Relationship Therapy

Laura Stannard Sex & Relationship Therapy Helping you to understand your s*x life, improve your relationships and live authentically.

A brief hello because it’s been a while 🖤 couples therapy rocks ✌🏻
23/03/2026

A brief hello because it’s been a while 🖤 couples therapy rocks ✌🏻

Neurodivergent relationships rarely look the way we’re told they “should.”Mainstream relationship advice often assumes s...
20/03/2026

Neurodivergent relationships rarely look the way we’re told they “should.”

Mainstream relationship advice often assumes shared routines, constant closeness, and the same energy patterns. For many ND people, those expectations can create unnecessary pressure.

Different nervous systems need different structures.

For some couples that might mean time apart to regulate energy.
For others it might mean separate routines, flexible agreements, or a relationship timeline that doesn’t follow convention.

None of this means less commitment.

It means designing a relationship that actually fits the people in it.

The question isn’t “Are we doing this the right way?”

It’s “Does this structure help us feel connected, safe, and able to be ourselves?”

If you’re navigating relationship patterns that feel confusing or stuck, I work exclusively with couples to help you understand what’s happening between you and build a relationship that works for both of you.

Visit the link in my bio to learn more.




Most men don’t realise they’re struggling with depression until their relationships start to fall apart.It doesn’t alway...
18/03/2026

Most men don’t realise they’re struggling with depression until their relationships start to fall apart.

It doesn’t always look like sadness.
Sometimes it’s anger.
Sometimes it’s silence.
Sometimes it’s the slow loss of intimacy, emotional and physical.

As a psychos*xual therapist, I see this every week. Men who are functioning, showing up for work, doing everything “right”… but something vital feels switched off.

Terry Real calls this covert depression, the kind that hides behind humour, control, or withdrawal. It’s the depression patriarchy teaches men to bury.

From a young age, boys learn to be strong and self-reliant, but rarely how to be vulnerable or emotionally honest. That disconnection costs them deeply, in their wellbeing, their relationships, and their s*x lives.

👉 I’ve written a new blog about male depression and relationships, and how patriarchy quietly shapes the way men love, connect, and desire.

Learn more via the link in my bio.




Dating advice is usually built for neurotypical nervous systems.So when AuDHD people hear things like“take it slow” or “...
16/03/2026

Dating advice is usually built for neurotypical nervous systems.

So when AuDHD people hear things like
“take it slow” or “don’t fall too fast,” it can feel confusing or even shaming.

For many neurodivergent people, attraction activates an interest-driven nervous system. Novelty, dopamine, and feeling genuinely understood can make connection feel immediate and intense.

That intensity isn’t necessarily impulsivity or emotional immaturity. Often it’s a nervous system responding to stimulation, curiosity, and the relief of feeling seen.

The real question isn’t whether you felt strongly at the beginning.

It’s what remains once the initial rush settles.

Do you feel safe with this person?
Do your values align?
Can the connection hold both intensity and regulation over time?

Intensity can start a relationship.
Sustainability is what allows it to grow.

Visit the link in my bio to learn more.




Why Do Women Become Therapists ? And how does profession limits us?Therapy is a female-dominated profession, and I’ve be...
12/03/2026

Why Do Women Become Therapists ? And how does profession limits us?

Therapy is a female-dominated profession, and I’ve been thinking a lot about why, and about the ways the structure of the field can quietly hold women back.

Under patriarchy we’re conditioned for:

Free emotional labour
High-intensity caregiving with little room for our own needs
People-pleasing and over-functioning
Playing small and staying quiet

At the same time, therapy requires deep skill, complex academic knowledge, intuition, and the emotional stamina to sit with human pain hour after hour.

And then there's private practice, a role that often mirrors the invisible labour women often carry: Constant juggling, emotional load, admin load, and the pressure to hold everything together.

It’s hard not to notice the contradiction:

Highly skilled, emotionally demanding, academically heavy work… often paired with low pay and a profession that can feed the tendency we have to undervalue ourselves and strive to be more, do more hours, just one more CPD.

This isn’t about blaming individuals, and it’s not an us vs them post, it’s about naming a system we’re all swimming in.

And that same system is exactly why we don’t see more male therapists either.

Why do we tend to see these imbalances in caretaking roles?




The Relationship Reset Ritual is a practical PDF you can sit down with once a week and use together.Inside, you’ll find:...
01/03/2026

The Relationship Reset Ritual is a practical PDF you can sit down with once a week and use together.

Inside, you’ll find:
• a clear 30-minute structure
• exact questions to guide your check-in
• space for emotional connection and life admin
• ND-affirming prompts around intimacy
• a gentle closing ritual to help you regulate together

You don’t need to talk about everything.
You just need a container that makes it feel doable.

You can download the full ritual via the link in my bio and try it this week.

26/02/2026

True respect in a relationship isn’t about big gestures or perfect communication.

It’s about making space for your partner to feel seen, heard, and valued
especially in the small, everyday moments.

When conversations only happen during conflict, it’s easy to miss each other.
Regular, intentional check-ins help shift the dynamic from reacting to understanding.

This is exactly what the Relationship Reset Ritual is designed to support.
A simple, weekly structure that helps couples talk before things build up.

Free to download via the link in my bio.




The Surprising Power of a Single SessionAs I transition into working primarily with relationships and couples, I’m keepi...
24/02/2026

The Surprising Power of a Single Session

As I transition into working primarily with relationships and couples, I’m keeping something I’ve loved for years: one-off sessions (also known as Single-Session Therapy).

Why I Love Single Sessions

Single-Session Therapy is more than just a quick fix, it’s an intentional, consensual appointment where we aim to make real progress in one session, with the option of more if you need it.

There have been so many moments in my life where I've felt like I've needed immediate access to therapy but wasn't in a position to commit to long term work. Those times where the anxiety is hitting a bit too hard or Google just isn't cutting it. That's why I love offering this type of session.

In s*x therapy we can often get to the heart of the matter quickly, providing direction, clarity and next steps you can act on straight away.

One session, on purpose, with the option of more only if it’s useful.

My love for these sessions remains and is available to individuals and partners.

Learn more via the link in my bio.




When communication feels hard, it’s often not because you don’t care.It’s because there’s too much to hold, too little s...
22/02/2026

When communication feels hard, it’s often not because you don’t care.
It’s because there’s too much to hold, too little structure, and nowhere calm to put it all.

The Relationship Reset Ritual is a free, practical PDF designed to help couples check in weekly without overwhelm.

It guides you through a 30-minute reset, with:
• a structured emotional check-in
• shared life admin, so nothing sits unspoken
• gentle prompts around intimacy and closeness
• a simple wrap-up to help you regulate together

You don’t need to fix everything.
You just need a container that makes connection feel doable again.

You can download the ritual for free and use it in your own time, at your own pace.

Link in bio.




19/02/2026

You know what is s*xy?
A real conversation.

Not the kind that happens when you’re already exhausted or mid-argument
but the kind that’s planned, contained, and actually feels safe.

You can’t have a healthy, happy relationship without communication. Disagreements will happen in every relationship. What matters is how you move through them.

When you and your partner can talk things through, understand each other’s perspective, and find a way forward together, it builds closeness rather than distance.

That’s why I often come back to this idea:
it’s you two vs the problem, not you vs each other.

The Relationship Reset Ritual is designed to support exactly this.
A short, weekly check-in with clear prompts, so conversations don’t only happen when things are already hard.

Less reactivity.
More teamwork.
More connection.

The ritual is free to download via the link in my bio.




My Values as a Sx TherapistMy values guide both my life and my work.They shape how I show up with clients, how I hold sp...
17/02/2026

My Values as a Sx Therapist

My values guide both my life and my work.

They shape how I show up with clients, how I hold space, and how I make decisions in and outside the therapy room.

Transparency: being open about process, motives, and boundaries.

Kindness: leading with care and warmth.

Compassion: understanding and responding to others’ pain or struggle.

Honesty: telling the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Respect: treating others (and yourself) with dignity and consideration.

Truth: seeking authenticity, integrity, and alignment with what’s real.

Freedom: the ability to live, choose, and express yourself authentically; to move through life without unnecessary constraint.

Autonomy: self-governance; having agency and ownership over your own choices, body, and path.

For me, these aren’t just professional ideals, they’re the foundation of how I build safety, connection, and trust with every person I work with and other people in my life.

If you’re a therapist, coach, or someone in a helping profession.

💭 What values guide your work?




If you’re considering couples therapy, it can be hard to know what it actually involves or whether it’s the right step.M...
17/02/2026

If you’re considering couples therapy, it can be hard to know what it actually involves or whether it’s the right step.

Many couples arrive feeling stuck or overwhelmed. Communication may have broken down, resentment may be high, and managing things alone no longer feels possible.

Couples therapy offers space to slow things down and begin listening differently. When past hurts or repeated patterns are involved, calm communication can feel almost impossible. Therapy helps create enough safety to untangle those patterns rather than repeating the same arguments.

In the early stages, we focus on stabilising what feels urgent and supporting safer, more productive conversations. From there, the work moves toward building empathy, improving communication, and developing skills to respond rather than react.

The aim isn’t to remove conflict, but to change how you relate to it.

If you’re wondering whether couples therapy might help, you’re welcome to get in touch to explore next steps.

Visit the link in my bio to learn more.




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