What makes a contented couple? Are there certain keys to having a thriving and loving intimate relationship? What if you didn't have a happy childhood? Can you still have a fulfilling and happy relationship?

Today I am speaking with Annie Power who is a couple counsellor and author. We talk about attachment theory and how that relates to relationships. How important is it to be a securely attached person in a couple? Annie shares different keys that you can cultivate to have a loving relationship, keys that are synonymous with contented couples.

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Anne Power, is a couple counsellor and has taught psychotherapy and supervision on university courses in London. She has published many academic papers on attachment and two books.

She started her counselling work thirty years ago. Her initial training was as a psychoanalytic psychotherapist with a special interest in attachment theory. Later she trained in a systemic model and this integration – of attachment and systemic thinking - matches with EFT (Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy) which is the model in which she is now developing her practice.

Some of the questions and areas interest:

1. I would love for you to share some of your journey. How did you arrive at doing what you do now?
2. Would you please introduce us to attachment theory. What is it? Could you talk a little about the different forms of attachment? (p. 15)
3. Could you please speak to how attachment theory relates to relationships?
4. In your research into the book, Contented Couples, what did you find made up a contented couple? You talk about a formula for a contented relationship. What is this? (p.3)
5. What is good-enough marriage? (p. 5)
6. If you have not had a secure attachment as a child (many of my listeners have been to boarding school) can we still cultivate a contented relationship? From those that you interviewed and in your experience how do we go about that? (p.35)
7. If a person enters a relationship and they don't feel that they are loveable and that they can love others, how do they heal this? (p. 3)
8. Could you please talk about how romantic and maternal relationships are similar? (p.46)
9. What makes a relationship work in the long run? (p.146-180)
10. Some other areas to talk about:
11. Self-care regarding relationships
12. Boarding school syndrome and attachment theory
13. 
    

For more information about Anne Power please visit: https://www.contentedcouples.com/

Or to purchase her book: https://www.karnacbooks.com/product/contented-couples-magic-logic-or-luck/96376/?MATCH=1

Or on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Contented-Couples-Magic-Logic-Luck/dp/1913494462/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

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An Evolving Man (AEM) Podcast is for men (and women) who want to grow, evolve and want support in learning how to do this.

On a regular basis there will be an interview around men's (and women's) topics ranging from self-development, relationships, spirituality, archetypes, trauma, boarding school syndrome and men's work featuring authors and leaders in this field.

The sense with these interviews is to support people during these times of change. What are the teachings, tools and practices that you can use to help you through these turbulent times?