Explore our articles

Which of these relationship topics resonate with you the most?

Unlocking Desire and Intimacy: Insights from Dr. Emma Smith, Certified Sex Therapist and Trauma Specialist

In today’s fast-paced world, many high-achieving individuals, especially women, find themselves caught in a paradox: excelling in career and life while feeling disconnected from their bodies, desires, and intimate relationships. Dr. Emma Smith, PhD, LPC, CST, CCTP-a licensed professional counselor, certified sex therapist, and trauma specialist-offers profound insights into how trauma, self-awareness, and emotional connection shape our experience of intimacy and desire. Her work in relationship therapy and relationship coaching helps individuals and couples navigate these complexities with compassion and skill.

    Only One Partner Thinks There’s a Problem in the Relationship?

    Relationships can be complex, and sometimes one partner feels something is wrong while the other doesn’t see an issue. This disconnect can be frustrating and disheartening, but it doesn’t have to mean the relationship is doomed. If you find yourself in this situation, here are some constructive steps you can take to navigate the issue and foster better understanding between you and your partner.

      Are You Trapped in a One-Sided Relationship?

      In a healthy relationship, conversations are balanced—both partners share, listen, and feel heard. But what happens when one person dominates every interaction? If you find yourself constantly listening and rarely speaking, you might be experiencing the draining effects of a relationship with a narcissistic individual.

        Understanding Addiction, Trauma, and Recovery: A Journey of Healing

        Addiction is a deeply personal yet universally significant issue that affects millions of people worldwide. It is not merely a struggle with substances or behaviors but often a complex web of emotional wounds, coping mechanisms, and societal influences. To effectively address addiction, it is essential to understand its roots, the role of trauma, and the strategies that can encourage recovery.

          Affair Repair: Understanding, Healing, and Safeguarding Your Relationship

          In this blog, we unpack the key themes from Amanda Deverich’s recent appearance on The Relationship Breakthrough Show and delve into how couples can navigate the storm of infidelity, rebuild trust, and fortify their relationships against future challenges.

            Navigating the Journey of Grief: Insights from Transformational Coach Mastanee Ati

            As the host of the Relationship Breakthrough Show from Aligned with Love, I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Mastanee Ati, a remarkable transformational coach and expert in the field of personal development and grief. Mastanee's journey is a testament to the power of resilience and self-discovery, making her insights on grief and personal transformation invaluable for our listeners, especially those considering relationship coaching or couples therapy.

            Bridging Cultural Gaps in Relationships: Embracing Growth and Authenticity

            In today’s increasingly interconnected world, cross-cultural relationships are becoming more common. These unions are rich with opportunities for growth, understanding, and connection, but they also come with unique challenges. Whether it's navigating cultural norms, bridging communication gaps, or adapting to different value systems, building a successful cross-cultural relationship requires intentional effort and mutual understanding. On a recent episode of The Relationship Breakthrough Podcast, Matt and Rebeca invited licensed therapist and coach Katie Rössler to explore the dynamics of cross-cultural relationships. Drawing from personal experience and professional expertise, Katie shared powerful insights into how couples can embrace their differences to foster deeper connections. Here's what we learned.

              Aligned with Love: Transforming Relationships Through Personal Experience

              Matt Albiges and Rebeca Perea, the dynamic duo behind Aligned with Love, recently shared their inspiring journey and relationship insights in a feature article for Woman magazine. This spotlight on their work highlights the unique approach that has made them the UK's leading relationship experts, helping countless couples and individuals transform their lives.

                Taking Charge: How to Lead Your Relationship to Growth (Even If Your Partner Isn't Ready Yet)

                In this blog post, we’ll explore how you can lead your relationship to growth, drawing insights from Matt and Rebeca’s recent podcast episode, Taking Charge: How to Lead Your Relationship to Growth (Even If Your Partner Isn’t Ready Yet). We’ll dive into key strategies that you can implement right away, and introduce you to our upcoming FREE masterclass on October 24th, "How to Engage Your Reluctant Partner."

                  Breaking the Cycle: The Best Gift for Your Kids

                  In Matt’s & Rebeca’s interview with GB News, they delved into the complexities of relationships and the often misguided notion of staying together for the sake of the children. As they shared during their time in Granada, South Spain, it's crucial to recognize that children absorb their parents' dynamics, and a loveless environment can be more damaging than separation. Their discussion emphasised the importance of fostering a loving and supportive relationship, not just for the parents' sake but as a vital foundation for children's emotional well-being. Join them as they explore how couples can transform their relationships into a nurturing space that benefits everyone involved.

                    Understanding the Five Masculine 'Fractures' Sabotaging Relationships

                    In today's fast-paced world, relationships can often feel like an uphill battle, particularly for men. As societal expectations evolve and the definition of masculinity shifts, many men find themselves grappling with internal struggles that impact their connections with partners. Recognizing and addressing these challenges is crucial for cultivating healthier, more fulfilling relationships. In this blog, we delve into the five major "fractures" that may quietly sabotage a man's love life, drawing insights from the recent podcast episode featuring expert coach Faisal Khokur.

                      Understanding Vanishing Twin Syndrome: The Invisible Loss in Pregnancy

                      Vanishing Twin Syndrome, also referred to as "Invisible Twin Syndrome," is a phenomenon where one twin disappears during pregnancy.

                        What is a Balanced Relationship & How to Create One

                        Imagine a balanced relationship, where both partners bask in the glow of mutual respect, value, and unwavering support.

                          Effective communication: developing strong communication skills helps couples express their needs and resolve conflicts.

                          This article is derived from a radio interview featuring Matt and Rebeca, the married couple behind "Aligned with Love." As experienced in couples therapy, they specialise in assisting couples on the brink of divorce, guiding them to gain clarity, understanding, and the essential tools needed to reconnect more deeply than ever. In their discussion with William Crawley for BBC4, they explore various facets of relationships, including the motivations behind marriage, the significance of legal protections, and the core elements that contribute to enduring partnerships.

                            Building Lasting Love: From Crumbling Foundations to Cozy Homes

                            In a world where relationships often face unprecedented challenges, Matt and Rebeca from Aligned with Love explore how the COVID-19 lockdown exposed underlying issues in many partnerships. Drawing powerful metaphors between the state of a home and the health of a relationship, they guide couples through the process of transforming their emotional dwellings from dilapidated structures into warm, loving sanctuaries. Discover how to address the cracks in your relationship and build a solid foundation for lasting love.

                              Building Stronger Foundations: Overcoming Relationship Challenges Together

                              Relationships are like buildings - without a solid foundation, even the smallest cracks can lead to collapse. As relationship therapists based in Cardiff, we've seen how the pandemic merely exposed and exacerbated existing fault lines in many couples' connections. During our interview on Radio Bro during lockdown, we discussed how the restrictions amplified relationship challenges for many. However, as we noted then, "there's a myth that says all relationships are struggling. That's definitely not true - some people have a great foundation." Those with strong foundations weathered the storm, while others saw their relationships crumble under the added pressure.

                                Aligned with Love Wins Prestigious Quality Business Award 2023

                                At the heart of Cardiff, a dynamic duo is revolutionising the landscape of relationship coaching. Matt and Rebeca, the powerhouse couple behind Aligned with Love, have recently been honoured with the Quality Business Award 2023, a testament to their exceptional service and transformative impact on couples across the UK.

                                  The difference between Relationship Therapy, Relationship Counselling and Relationship Coaching

                                  When it comes to seeking help to have a great romantic relationship, understanding the differences between Relationship Therapy, Counseling, and Relationship Coaching is critical.

                                    Rekindling Love: Insights from Matthew Albiges on Transforming Relationships

                                    In a recent interview with Chat & Spin Radio, Matthew Albiges, co-founder of Aligned with Love, shared valuable insights on helping couples revitalise their relationships. Matthew, who works alongside his wife Rebeca, specialises in guiding couples through challenging times and helping them rediscover the love that brought them together.

                                      Rekindling Love: Insights from Relationship Experts Matt and Rebeca

                                      In a world where relationships face unprecedented challenges, Matt and Rebeca from Aligned with Love offer a beacon of hope. This married couple, specialising in relationship therapy and couples coaching, shares their expertise on helping couples on the brink of divorce rediscover love and connection.

                                        6 signs you're growing apart from your partner and how to reconnect

                                        Have you ever found yourself growing apart from your partner without realising it? Identifying the red flags to take action to regain the intimacy and the spark can be love changing.

                                          How to Reignite The Spark with Your Intimate Partner

                                          "We’re delighted and happy, and we can’t wait to make time for each other."

                                            Enhancing your relationship through great CONVERSATION with the BBC's Psychology Today

                                            Have you ever been talking to your partner (or anyone else for that matter), and find yourself with that frustrated feeling that they just don't get it?

                                            The top 21 signs that your partner doesn’t value you

                                            Trusting your feelings is key; doubts often stem from fear of confrontation or self-deception. Listen to your body, heed the facts; don't cover cracks, confront truths.

                                            Baby Reindeer - 6 relationship lessons from Netflix's #1 hit show!

                                            Baby Reindeer has provoked lots of discussion already, and of course we watched it with great interest to see what kind of lessons of insights it might highlight from a relationship perspective… and we weren't disappointed! So what are the 6 relationship lessons that we took away from Donnie's story and relationship encounters?

                                            Navigating the boundaries: open relationships and the question of infidelity

                                            "We're ultimately mammals, aren't we?" - Says Matt - "We're following this programming in our genes where we only want one thing which is to have as many kids with as many different partners as possible." - "Totally" - Says Nicky Campbell. "So if we just get following these impulses…then it's true that we can get in a mess" - Says Matt...

                                              Pushed off a cliff… for LOVE?

                                              There were already difficulties in the marriage between Kashif Anwar and Fawziyah Javed when they took a ‘mini-moon’ trip to Edinburgh in September 2021. After falling down a vertical cliff from close to the top of Arthur’s Seat she died from her injuries shortly afterwards. A recent Channel 4 documentary has examined what happened before the tragic incident and the subsequent court case where Fawziyah’s husband Kashif was tried and convicted of her murder.

                                              What Barbie & Ken taught us about sexism

                                              Many of us will have all seen the 2023 Barbie movie by now. Having spent months seeing pink clothes and blonde wigs on every street corner we finally sat down to watch it and were shocked by the amount of issues raised in this movie, that reflect on so many aspects of our relationships. From feminism to existential crisis to corporate consumerism, what did you find resonated with you?

                                                Keeping children in focus – staying together for their benefit?

                                                Deciding whether to stay in a marriage for the sake of your children is a deeply personal and complex decision that depends on many factors. Here are some considerations to help you make an informed choice.

                                                Love and Limits - Identifying Relationship Boundaries

                                                Over the past month words such as “boundaries, “abuse” and “coercive behaviour” have been circulating the internet, especially after surfer, Sarah Brady released a lengthy post regarding the abuse she reported when in a relationship with her ex boyfriend and celebrity, Jonah Hill. 

                                                Factors That Can Put Your Relationship into a Negative Place

                                                In this blog article we are going to go over the most common factors that often lead to couples struggling in their relationship.

                                                Getting to grips with our hidden sabotaging patterns

                                                In our journey towards personal growth and success, we often encounter roadblocks. Despite our best efforts, we find ourselves stuck in self-destructive patterns that can hinder our progress in life. These sabotaging patterns are part of our subconscious minds, influencing our behaviour and choices without our awareness. 

                                                How sleep deprivation can hinder your relationship

                                                Adequate sleep is not only essential for our physical health but also plays a significant role in maintaining healthy relationships. When we consistently lack sleep, it can have detrimental effects on our emotional well-being, communication skills, and overall behaviour, which can, in turn, damage our relationships. 

                                                Understanding our attachment styles

                                                Attachment styles shape how we perceive intimacy, express emotions, and handle conflicts with partners. Developed by British psychologist John Bowlby, attachment theory states that the early bonds we form with caregivers significantly influence our adult relationships.

                                                5 Steps to Better Emotional Intimacy

                                                We often assume that we’re in a relationship, so we’re going to have a level of closeness with our partner. But is this always the case? Could we be in a relationship AND still feel really disconnected and lonely?

                                                Should children learn about relationships at school?

                                                Many of us with children will have seen Rebeca Humphires name making its way around socials, this is because she is saying something many of us may have thought whilst navigating relationships growing up. Namely that children should be taught about relationships at school.

                                                Embrace quality time with your partner

                                                We see celebrities like David and Victoria Beckham whisking away to holiday homes in Miami or the Maldives, holidays many of us could only wish to experience. Does this lead you to wonder, would my relationship be better if I could spend more quality time with my partner like this, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life even for just 1 week?

                                                Quiet quitting, the silent goodbye

                                                During a survey we carried out here at Aligned with Love, we found that over 38% of participants were actively considering breaking up with their partner. Let’s take a look at a common break-up technique that has gone viral on social media and discuss the best ways in which we believe a break-up can be carried out.

                                                Ageless Love: The Truth About Age Gap Relationships

                                                Age gap relationships, in particular, have become a subject of intrigue and discussion, challenging traditional notions of love, companionship, and compatibility. Can these relationships flourish despite societal norms and expectations?

                                                Is Marriage still relevant today?

                                                With the number of people choosing to get married at their lowest point in recorded history, we’re asking the question is marriage really worth it? 

                                                Do open relationships really work?

                                                In recent years, the concept of open relationships has gained significant attention and acceptance. What actually is an open relationship and do they work?

                                                Counselling Pre-crisis?

                                                Pre-crisis marriage counselling has been in discussion in the media recently with many celebrities raving over the positive effects. Here we examine pre-crisis therapy, so that you can consider if it is right for you.

                                                Overwhelm of caring for our partner

                                                How many relationships are affected by long-term illness and what do people in this situation need to consider to be able to not only support their partner but to stay in a positive place themselves?

                                                How to avoid losing the “spark” in your relationship

                                                The start of a relationship can be an exciting and exhilarating time. But as time goes on, the start of a relationship turns into a long-term relationship. In this article we will discuss how couples can bring back the “spark” in their relationship.

                                                Recognising an abusive relationship

                                                Abusive relationships can take many forms, including physical, emotional, sexual, verbal, and financial abuse, and can cause significant damage to a person’s self-esteem and mental health. Leaving an abusive relationship can be an incredibly difficult and scary process, but it is often the best thing you can do for your own safety and well-being.

                                                When the attraction fades… Is Love really Blind?

                                                In this blog we will discuss attraction in relationships and how we can maintain it over time. How important is it? And what do we do if the attraction we feel towards our partner is fading?

                                                What is the #threemonthrule and does it make sense?

                                                We all know relationships can be complicated and take a lot of work to make them really thrive in the long term. For instance we can get lazy over time, getting a bit too comfortable meaning that the magic can fade. This is a common phenomenon but when does the lack of effort and enthusiasm become problematic? 

                                                How a failing relationship affects more than just your emotional wellbeing

                                                Discover the far-reaching consequences of a deteriorating relationship in our latest blog post. Uncover the surprising ways it can touch every aspect of your life, from your mental and physical health to your career and social connections. Gain valuable insights into the intricate web of connections that make up our lives and learn how nurturing your relationships can be the key to a happier, more fulfilling existence.

                                                “Glamourising love as possession”… recognising the signs that you are in a toxic relationship

                                                One of the most common challenges that people bring along when their relationship isn’t working is that they feel that they have lost some freedom through their relationship. While we can all have different ideas about what love is, when we have different ideas to our partner it can lead us into trouble.

                                                Broken by my failing relationship…

                                                Things had been tough in my failing relationship with my partner (now ex-partner) for a while and I was starting to really question myself… Maybe there was some truth in this shaming and name calling, and it really WAS all about me.

                                                Thinking of breaking up… Should I stay or should I go?

                                                When we have reasons for staying as well as for leaving we start thinking of breaking up. We start  wondering “Should I stay or should I go?

                                                Saving my relationship after infidelity

                                                5 ways to tell whether my relationship is worth saving.

                                                Are you being ABUSED or MANIPULATED?

                                                From the work that Matt & I do with couples, we have extracted the Top 7 most common manipulative patterns that you can encounter in an intimate relationship. How can you tell if you are being ABUSED or MANIPULATED?

                                                Failing abusive relationship – Is it saveable?

                                                There’s nothing worse than having to remove yourself from an abusive, manipulative and violent partner in a failing abusive relationship.

                                                Relationship feeling like a lonely place to be?

                                                Is your once-thriving relationship now a lonely, isolated space? Join us in this insightful blog post where we navigate the complexities of feeling alone in a partnership. Discover practical tips and heartfelt advice on reconnecting with your partner, rekindling the flames of intimacy, and transforming your relationship into a source of genuine companionship and fulfillment. Don't let loneliness define your love story – find the path to reconnection today.

                                                Three Steps to Enhanced Charisma (for MEN)

                                                When our clients are reaching out for relationship therapy to turn around their struggling or stagnant relationship, one of the most commonly reported challenges is where it’s reported that while they get along ok, any spark or magic feels like a distant memory, they feel the lack of their enhanced charisma.

                                                “How do I deal with my wife when she is angry?”

                                                What is the best way to deal with my wife when she reacts like an angry bully? How to deal with a wife that is always angry?

                                                How to fix a broken relationship?

                                                In this enlightening blog post, we delve into the art of repairing a broken relationship. Whether you're facing communication issues, trust issues, or simply feeling disconnected, we've got you covered with expert insights and practical strategies. Learn how to rebuild trust, rekindle the spark, and create a stronger, more loving connection with your partner. It's never too late to mend what's broken – discover the path to a healthier, happier relationship today.

                                                Tips on how to build RAPPORT with your partner!

                                                Losing rapport with the people around us will not only stunt the development of our intimate relationship but also our career or business life too. Read this article to find out the tips on how to build RAPPORT with your partner or anyone else!

                                                How to know if a relationship is worth saving?

                                                Discover insightful tips and guidance on how to make the right decision for your emotional well-being and future happiness. Don't let doubt linger – find clarity and confidence in your relationship's path today.

                                                How to Save a Relationship?

                                                The stakes are high, so what can we do to untangle the situation and to start to make sense of it?

                                                The Top 3 Signs of a TOXIC relationship

                                                When we lose something of ourself in the relationship, this tends to create resentment and unhappiness.

                                                Who are you dating?

                                                My bed was asking me to stay, but I went to the gym because I had a date with my body.

                                                Rebecca

                                                Listen to Rebecca's experience with Aligned With Love

                                                  Get in touch and transform your relationship situation

                                                  Many couples have already transformed their relationship challenges. When are you going to be the next one?

                                                  Get in touch Who we are