Advertise on podcast: The Sex and Relationships Podcast

Friends - those people we collect through life, often taken for granted but can be so important to us. In this episode Clare and Aileen turn their attention to friendships. What are they, how do we make them, what do they bring and where they can go wrong. So, if you’ve ever felt guilty for neglecting a friendship, been baffled by a falling out or wondered why some friends bring out the best in you and others don’t. This one is for you. Dip into some of the things Clare and Aileen chat about in this episode: 04:28 Not all friends are the same - but that's a good thing 13:47 Losing friends 23:14 Have your friendships become so routine they need a reset? 28:33 Challenge v giving advice – what’s better for you? 36:45 How to look after friendships Want to know more? Visit our website: The Sex and Relationships Podcast for more information on the issues discussed in this episode. You can also Ask Clare a question or suggest a topic for future episodes. Follow us on social media: Instagram Facebook About the Sex and Relationships Podcast This podcast is for anyone looking for information or help with their sex lives or relationships. In this season your hosts Clare Prendergast and Aileen Gonsalves deep dive into the world of relationships to give you insights, advice and top tips to help guide you through your relationships. Your hosts Clare Prendergast is a sex and relationships therapist and draws on her knowledge and years of experience in the therapy room to give you help and guidance. Aileen Gonsalves is fascinated in human behaviour and drawing on her many years in the theatre has developed the unique Gonsalves Method which helps people be more present and develop authentic connections with those around them. Music: Imogen Shortall Series Producer: Amanda Hancox

Have you ever had that knot in your stomach when your partner is spending a lot of time with someone else, or that emotional reaction when a colleague gets promoted over you? Then it’s likely you’ve experienced this week’s topic: jealousy. In this episode Clare and Aileen discuss what jealousy is, where it comes from and tips on what you can do about it. They will give you a set of tools to help you work with your jealous emotions in a better way when you feel them welling up inside you. Dip into some of the things Clare and Aileen chat about in this episode: 02:42 Jealousy – an emotional response 11:01 The three faces of jealousy 15:05 How jealousy impacts others 17:18 Tips on how to deal with jealous emotions 21:43 What is jealousy telling you about your life? 28:04 Choosing the right people to talk to 30:06 Is it true, is it absolutely true? Want to know more? Visit our website: The Sex and Relationships Podcast for more information on the issues discussed in this episode. You can also Ask Clare a question or suggest a topic for future episodes. Follow us on social media: Instagram Facebook About the Sex and Relationships Podcast This podcast is for anyone looking for information or help with their sex lives or relationships. In this season your hosts Clare Prendergast and Aileen Gonsalves deep dive into the world of relationships to give you insights, advice and top tips to help guide you through your relationships. Your hosts Clare Prendergast is a sex and relationships therapist and draws on her knowledge and years of experience in the therapy room to give you help and guidance. Aileen Gonsalves is fascinated in human behaviour and drawing on her many years in the theatre has developed the unique Gonsalves Method which helps people be more present and develop authentic connections with those around them.

How often have you said something quite ordinary to a parent, or they’ve said something to you and suddenly the room feels like it’s about to explode? Welcome to the parental nightmare. It’s not just about conflict, it’s about what’s hidden underneath these relationships – family secrets, unspoken stories, patterns of behaviour passed from one generation to the next. In this episode Clare and Aileen explore the complex, often lifelong, relationship we have with our parents and discuss practical strategies to help you navigate this important relationship. Dip into some of the things Clare and Aileen chat about in this episode: 02:34 The shifting nature of parental relationships throughout our lives 09:51 So much is hidden in relationships between children and their parents 15:22 Not everyone wants to be a parent 18:51 Unrequited parental love and the roles we play 25:32 Parenting our parents 38:32 You are not alone Want to know more? Visit our website: The Sex and Relationships Podcast for more information on the issues discussed in this episode. You can also Ask Clare a question or suggest a topic for future episodes. Follow us on social media: Instagram Facebook About the Sex and Relationships Podcast This podcast is for anyone looking for information or help with their sex lives or relationships.In this season your hosts Clare Prendergast and Aileen Gonsalves deep dive into the world of relationships to give you insights, advice and top tips to help guide you through your relationships. Your hosts Clare Prendergast is a sex and relationships therapist and draws on her knowledge and years of experience in the therapy room to give you help and guidance. Aileen Gonsalves is fascinated in human behaviour and drawing on her many years in the theatre has developed the unique Gonsalves Method which helps people be more present and develop authentic connections with those around them.

Work can take up so much of our waking hours but how often do we look at our relationship with work. Are you a workaholic or just going through the motions? Does it inspire or drain you? What about the people we work with: colleagues, managers and those unrequited crushes or unwanted attentions? When it comes to work, things can get complicated. Clare and Aileen delve into the tangled world of work to help you think about your relationship with work and give tips on how to navigate those complex relationships in the workplace. Dip into some of the things Clare and Aileen chat about in this episode: 01:05 It’s personal to you 02:36 Strategies for being in a job you don’t like 13:19 Life, work, balance 19:31 Navigating relationships at work 22:44 Unwanted attention – how to deal with it 32:38 Work is love made visible Visit our website: The Sex and Relationships Podcast for more information on the issues discussed in this episode. You can also Ask Clare a question or suggest a topic for future episodes. Follow us on social media: Instagram Facebook About the Sex and Relationships Podcast This podcast is for anyone looking for information or help with their sex lives or relationships. In this season your hosts Clare Prendergast and Aileen Gonsalves deep dive into the world of relationships to give you insights, advice and top tips to help guide you through your relationships. Your hosts Clare Prendergast is a sex and relationships therapist and draws on her knowledge and years of experience in the therapy room to give you help and guidance. Aileen Gonsalves is fascinated in human behaviour and drawing on her many years in the theatre has developed the unique Gonsalves Method which helps people be more present and develop authentic connections with those around them.

Have you ever found yourself thinking, ‘What on earth was I doing?This person is all wrong for me’, when only a few months ago they seemed perfect? How did that feeling of bliss when you’re finishing each other’s sentences and laughing at the same jokes turn to irritation, resentment and blaming them for everything that’s wrong? Clare and Aileen help you understand the natural cycle from falling-in-love bliss to relationship blame, why it happens, and how to navigate your way through it. Dip into some of the things Clare and Aileen chat about in this episode: 03:51 What’s happening to our bodies during the bliss phase 10:54 Difference – the good, the bad and the ugly 17:35 The danger of confiding in people who agree with you 20:49 Tips for navigating through the bliss to blame phases 23:50 Esther Perel – many different marriages within the same marriage 26:08 Tips on better communication 28:03 Has this relationship come to the end of the road? 34:22 Tips on how to have honest conversations with partners and friends Want to know more? If you want to hear more about what to do when sexual attraction starts to fade in a relationship listen to Episode 7 “Lust or Bust” from Season 1. Visit our website: The Sex and Relationships Podcast for more information on the issues discussed in this episode. You can also Ask Clare a question or suggest a topic for future episodes. Follow us on social media: Instagram Facebook About the Sex and Relationships Podcast This podcast is for anyone looking for information or help with their sex lives or relationships. In this season your hosts Clare Prendergast and Aileen Gonsalves deep dive into the world of relationships to give you insights, advice and top tips to help guide you through your relationships. Your hosts Clare Prendergast is a sex and relationships therapist and draws on her knowledge and years of experience in the therapy room to give you help and guidance. Aileen Gonsalves is fascinated in human behaviour and drawing on her many years in the theatre has developed the unique Gonsalves Method which helps people be more present and develop authentic connections with those around them.

Have you’ve ever felt transformed after a walk by the sea or in the woods? Have you’ve ever found yourself reaching for the biscuit tin when anxious rather than hungry, or noticed how your pet knows when you are feeling low? This podcast is for you. Clare and Aileen take you on a tour of some of those relationships we often don’t think about but matter deeply. From pets and nature to time, food and even life and the divine, these relationships have the ability to shape our lives, comfort us, challenge us and sometimes reveal parts of ourselves we didn’t know were there. Dip into some of the things Clare and Aileen chat about in this episode: 00:24 How your pet can teach you about tuning into your senses and being present. 03:34 Nature – when did you last give yourself permission just to experience it. 04:49 Time: what is your relationship to it? Do you find you don’t have enough or are you able to make time for yourself? 12:14 Having a relationship with place, do you have a sense of belonging where you are? 17:49 Understanding your relationship with food. 23:46 Relationships with the divine, the higher power, the universe. 27:19 Embracing the idea that everything will come to an end helps to embrace and enjoy each moment. Visit our website: The Sex and Relationships Podcast for more information on the issues discussed in this episode. You can also Ask Clare a question or suggest a topic for future episodes. Follow us on social media: Instagram Facebook About the Sex and Relationships Podcast This podcast is for anyone looking for information or help with their sex lives or relationships.In this season your hosts Clare Prendergast and Aileen Gonsalves deep dive into the world of relationships to give you insights, advice and top tips to help guide you through your relationships. Your hosts Clare Prendergast is a sex and relationships therapist and draws on her knowledge and years of experience in the therapy room to give you help and guidance. Aileen Gonsalves is fascinated in human behaviour and drawing on her many years in the theatre has developed the unique Gonsalves Method which helps people be more present and develop authentic connections with those around them.

Your relationship with yourself might sound a bit odd. But it’s so important. How often have you sidelined or neglected yourself to focus on everyone else? When did you last think paying attention to yourself was selfish? Clare and Aileen share their top tips on how to bring your relationship back to you and reveal how investing in yourself can make a real difference not just to you but to those around you. Dip into some of the things Clare and Aileen chat about in this episode: 00:36 Why we look away 10:14 Why loving yourself is worth it 14:30 How to check in with yourself 22:06 Recognising and understanding code switching 24:40 Tips for getting in touch with your inner self 30:31 Finding buried treasure Want to know more? If you want to hear why it’s so important for your relationships to have ‘me’ time, listen to Episode 9 Me-Topia from Season 1. Visit our website: The Sex and Relationships Podcast for more information on the issues discussed in this episode. You can also Ask Clare a question or suggest a topic for future episodes. Follow us on social media: Instagram Facebook About the Sex and Relationships Podcast This podcast is for anyone looking for information or help with their sex lives or relationships.In this season your hosts Clare Prendergast and Aileen Gonsalves deep dive into the world of relationships to give you insights, advice and top tips to help guide you through your relationships. Your hosts Clare Prendergast is a sex and relationships therapist and draws on her knowledge and years of experience in the therapy room to give you help and guidance. Aileen Gonsalves is fascinated in human behaviour and drawing on her many years in the theatre has developed the unique Gonsalves Method which helps people be more present and develop authentic connections with those around them.

Holidays, thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays – those special, wonderful moments we dream of. But if you’ve ever walked away from a Christmas dinner or a family holiday wondering what on earth went wrong – this podcast is for you. Check out some of the things Clare and Aileen chat about in this episode: 02:10 Great expectations 07:36 What can possibly go wrong? 11:46 Pressure cooker effect 18:27 Tips for how to navigate special occasions 26:35 Small things that make a big difference 33:00 How to stop making the same mistakes – learning for next time Want to know more? Visit our website: The Sex and Relationships Podcast for more information on the issues discussed in this episode. You can also Ask Clare a question or suggest a topic for future episodes. Follow us on social media: Instagram Facebook About the Sex and Relationships Podcast This podcast is for anyone looking for information or help with their sex lives or relationships. In this season your hosts Clare Prendergast and Aileen Gonsalves deep dive into the world of relationships to give you insights, advice and top tips to help guide you through your relationships. Your hosts Clare Prendergast is a sex and relationships therapist and draws on her knowledge and years of experience in the therapy room to give you help and guidance. Aileen Gonsalves is fascinated in human behaviour and drawing on her many years in the theatre has developed the unique Gonsalves Method which helps people be more present and develop authentic connections with those around them.

Relationships – what are they? We often think of relationships as intimate with a partner and yet we actually have hundreds of relationships with friends, family, at work, at play even with nature and beyond. Clare and Aileen kick off the season by discussing the breadth of relationships. Check out some of the things Clare and Aileen chat about: 02:01 Hierarchy of friends 05:00 Relationships we don’t choose 08:56 Relationship with myself 11:36 So what are relationships? Want to know more? Visit our website The Sex and Relationships Podcast for more information on the issues discussed in this episode. You can also Ask Clare a question or suggest a topic for future episodes. Follow us on social media: Instagram Facebook About the Sex and Relationships Podcast This podcast is for anyone looking for information or help with their sex lives or relationships. In this season your hosts Clare Prendergast and Aileen Gonsalves deep dive into the world of relationships to give you insights, advice and top tips to help guide you through your relationships. Your hosts Clare Prendergast is a sex and relationships therapist and draws on her knowledge and years of experience in the therapy room to give you help and guidance. Aileen Gonsalves is fascinated in human behaviour and drawing on her many years in the theatre has developed the unique Gonsalves Method which helps people be more present and develop authentic connections with those around them.

If sex is another job on the ‘to do’ list, and you find you’re losing sexual attraction for your partner, it’s time to press the Reset button. Clare and Janet chat about why we ‘go off it’ and how we can get it back!   Dip into some of things Clare and Janet chat about in this episode: 5:03    How to prioritise your relationship and not take each other for granted. 06:24  How to stop feelings of being taken for granted and resentment building up 11:23  Attitudes towards sex in long term relationships 20’53  How to manage sexual disappointment 24:32  How to negotiate mismatch desire. 28:06  Don’t rush to break up when lust and sexual attraction leave the room. Staying in a relationship can reap benefits beyond imagination. 33:01  Clare and Janet’s top tips Want to know more? If you want to hear more about sexual attraction listen to episode 2 The Arousal Paradox. Visit our website The Sex and Relationships Podcast  for more information on the issues discussed in this episode. You can also Ask Clare a question or suggest a topic for future episodes. Follow us on social media: Instagram Facebook About The Sex and Relationships Podcast: This podcast is for anyone looking for information or help with their sex lives or relationships.  Your hosts Clare Pendergast (PgDip/COSRT) and Janet Eccles (MSc MA/COSRT/Sup MBACP) are sex and relationship therapists. In each episode they chat about common problems they see in the therapy room and draw on their years of experience to give you some insights, advice and top tips to help guide you through your relationships and sex lives.

Clare and Janet explore the relationship issues that lead to arguments and how to do conflict better. Dip into some of things Clare and Janet chat about in this episode: 00:43  Shouting, crying, slamming doors, walking away, silence - common reactions to arguments but what’s really going on in conflict? What are you really fighting for? 13:30  So what to do about conflict in relationships? How to understand conflict through Karpman's Drama Triangle 23:24  Why having some ‘me’ time is really important for improving relationships. 26:56  Janet’s 10 minute exercise to help you manage relationship issues and arguments better.    34:45  Clare and Janet’s top tips Want to know more? If you want to hear more about why it’s so important for your relationships to have ‘me’ time listen to episode 9 Me-topia. Visit our website The Sex and Relationships Podcast  for more information on the issues discussed in this episode. You can also Ask Clare a question or suggest a topic for future episodes. Follow us on social media: Instagram Facebook   About The Sex and Relationships Podcast: This podcast is for anyone looking for information or help with their sex lives or relationships.  Your hosts Clare Pendergast (PgDip/COSRT) and Janet Eccles (MSc MA/COSRT/Sup MBACP) are sex and relationship therapists. In each episode they chat about common problems they see in the therapy room and draw on their years of experience to give you some insights, advice and top tips to help guide you through your relationships and sex lives.

Is sex over too quickly? If premature ejaculation happens to you or your partner, it doesn’t have to be game over. Clare and Janet explore why men can orgasm too quickly and what can help. Dip into some of things Clare and Janet chat about in this episode: 02:05  Definitions of rapid ejaculation. 05:16   Some of the medical approaches to treating premature ejaculation and what’s on the market to help. 08:30  Why do I have this problem? Clare and Janet chat about the common reasons this happens. 18:05   What to do about it? 22:56  Clare and Janet share some of the techniques they use to help people with premature ejaculation.  Want to know more? If you want to find out about erectile dysfunction listen to episode 4 Losing It. Visit our website The Sex and Relationships Podcast  for more information on the issues discussed in this episode. You can also Ask Clare a question or suggest a topic for future episodes. Follow us on social media: Instagram Facebook   About The Sex and Relationships Podcast: This podcast is for anyone looking for information or help with their sex lives or relationships.  Your hosts Clare Pendergast (PgDip/COSRT) and Janet Eccles (MSc MA/COSRT/Sup MBACP)are sex and relationship therapists. In each episode they chat about common problems they see in the therapy room and draw on their years of experience to give you some insights, advice and top tips to help guide you through your relationships and sex lives.

Why erectile dysfunction doesn’t have to be the catastrophe you might think it is. Clare and Janet discuss ways to help with erection problems.   Dip into some of things Clare and Janet chat about in this episode: 03:35  What might be causing erection problems?  08:34  So what help is at hand?  What’s on the market to help you get an erection. Stress No More 12:16  Ideas on what you can do for yourself. Why Kegels exercises are good to do. 16:52  Can watching too much porn can cause problems with erections when having sex? 19:35  How to deal with stress and anxiety caused by unreliable erections. 24:36   Exercise ideas for you on your own or with a partner to help bring on an orgasm or increase sexual pleasure. 31:24  Clare and Janet’s top tips Want to know more? If you’re interested to know more about how the lack of self-care can affect sex and relationships check out episode 6 Victims and Villains and episode 5 The Big O..oh no! Visit our website The Sex and Relationships Podcast  for more information on the issues discussed in this episode. You can also Ask Clare a question or suggest a topic for future episodes. Follow us on social media: Instagram Facebook   About The Sex and Relationships Podcast: This podcast is for anyone looking for information or help with their sex lives or relationships.  Your hosts Clare Pendergast (PgDip/COSRT) and Janet Eccles (MSc MA/COSRT/Sup MBACP) are sex and relationship therapists. In each episode they chat about common problems they see in the therapy room and draw on their years of experience to give you some insights, advice and top tips to help guide you through your relationships and sex lives.

Clare and Janet discuss orgasms - and what can help if it isn’t happening for you or your partner. Also the myths surrounding female orgasm. Do you really know what the clitoris looks like?!   Dip into some of things Clare and Janet chat about in this episode: 01:54  What is an organism? What are common misunderstandings? 06:09  Why orgasms add years to your life! Am I enjoying this? Do I understand how it works? 10:01   Will it happen, won’t it happen? Your orgasm is about you and not about them. 14:02   How communication can be the key to successful orgasms.  20: 16.  Emily Nagoski: Come As You Are 21:01   Exercises to help women who don’t have orgasms 24:57  The Great Wall of Vulva 26:19   Getting familiar with the female body.  Professor Helen O’Connell  The anatomy of the clitoris Want to know more? Visit our website The Sex and Relationships Podcast  for more information on the issues discussed in this episode. You can also Ask Clare a question or suggest a topic for future episodes. Follow us on social media: Instagram Facebook About The Sex and Relationships Podcast: This podcast is for anyone looking for information or help with their sex lives or relationships.  Your hosts Clare Pendergast (PgDip/COSRT) and Janet Eccles (MSc MA/COSRT/Sup MBACP) are sex and relationship therapists. In each episode they chat about common problems they see in the therapy room and draw on their years of experience to give you some insights, advice and top tips to help guide you through your relationships and sex lives.

If you always come last on the priority list, it’s time to learn why ‘Being Selfish for the Team’ helps everyone. Janet and Clare discuss the vital positives of self care on your life and relationship. Dip into some of things Clare and Janet chat about in this episode: 01:47  Why making time for ‘me’ is not selfish, it’s very important for your well-being, your relationship with yourself and our relationships with others. 08:00  Where our attitudes towards self-care often come from. 11:55   Are your needs being met?  Damian Hughes   Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs 16:35   Being selfish for the team. Why women’s desire and energy for sex often disappears if we are not looking after ourselves properly. 22:34  Ideas for self-care Want to know more? If you’re interested to know more about how the lack of self-care can affect sex and relationships check out episode 6 Victims and Villains and episode 5 The Big O..oh no! Visit our website The Sex and Relationships Podcast  for more information on the issues discussed in this episode. You can also Ask Clare a question or suggest a topic for future episodes. Follow us on social media: Instagram Facebook   About The Sex and Relationships Podcast: This podcast is for anyone looking for information or help with their sex lives or relationships.  Your hosts Clare Pendergast (PgDip/COSRT) and Janet Eccles (MSc MA/COSRT/Sup MBACP) are sex and relationship therapists. In each episode they chat about common problems they see in the therapy room and draw on their years of experience to give you some insights, advice and top tips to help guide you through your relationships and sex lives. Series Producer: Amanda Hancox