Columns: Tag – Agony Aunt
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Characters on the Couch
Successful career but at what price?
Dear Gabriel,
My husband and I are both in our late 30s. We’re both barristers who met at uni. We got together doing our articles and when we were finished we cruised around the world a bit. Then we had to earn some solid cash to pay off our bank loans. Then we had to be pupil barristers, then build up our careers … basically, we now want to have a baby.
Characters on the Couch
Is anal sex okay?
Dear Gabriel,
My lover wants to enjoy anal sex with me. Yuck! Should I? How? Will I enjoy it?
Characters on the Couch
True soulmate?
Dear Gabriel,
I’ve been happily married for 19 years. But throughout this period, have been exchanging letters with a man who is married to my best friend and whom I realise now is actually my true soulmate. We have never made love, but I feel that if I don’t act, I will never know true happiness. It seems like an impossible dilemma.
Characters on the Couch
Rekindle sex life
Dear Gabriel,
My husband and I met and got pregnant, just about that quickly. Now we have three small kids and we’re always tired. We never seem to go out, let alone have sex. I’m about to turn 29 and I’d like to rekindle my sex life. What should I do?
Characters on the Couch
Fabulous sex but wont commit
Dear Gabriel,
It’s been a long time coming. I have been out of a relationship for a few years. But some time ago, I met someone. I think he’s the love of my life. I just knew it, from the first time we talked at length. The trouble is he’s got major baggage
Characters on the Couch
One person’s boring is another’s fantasy
Dear Gabriel,
I’m a gay man in my 20s. Am I old-fashioned? My boyfriend says I’m an idiot.
I haven’t had many relationships. I only came out a couple of years ago. My family hasn’t exactly disowned me, but they make it clear they’re not happy. My mother thinks it’s a phase.
Characters on the Couch
Same sex encounter
Dear Gabriel,
I’m happily married. Or I thought I was until last week. I’ve been married for nine years and two months. I have everything I could possibly want. We have a nice house, twin daughters and recently bought a holiday house on the coast.
But last week, we went to a party. Everyone had a bit too much to drink and things got a little naughty.
Characters on the Couch
The envy of womanhood
Dear Gabriel,
I’m a divorced woman (recently) in my mid-40s. My husband and I parted after a mutual decision. At first I was happy and really enjoyed having the house to myself.
Characters on the Couch
A one-sided romantic fantasy
Dear Gabriel,
I’m a university student. I was never away from home before this year. Now I’m living in res. I haven’t had a proper boyfriend before. My English professor is in love with me. And I am with him. He’s never said anything, of course. He’s too shy.
Characters on the Couch
Should I phone him?
Dear Gabriel,
I met this guy at a party the other night. We hooked up and I really thought we had a connection. We ended up kissing (and a little more) in the car afterwards. He promised to phone and put my number in his cell phone. But since then I haven’t heard.
Characters on the Couch
Pretending is plain hard work
Dear Gabriel,
I don’t seem to get anywhere with girls. My mates tell me I go about it all wrong. My one mate has girls all the time.
Characters on the Couch
Flirting and respect
Dear Gabriel,
I’ve been going out with this girl for a while now. Things are really great except, when we go to parties, she likes to flirt with all the other guys.
In love with my best friend
Dear Gabriel,
I’m in my final year of high school and I’ve been in love with my best friend for the past year. She doesn’t know and I can’t tell her.
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Never actually had an orgasm
Dear Gabriel,
I’m not sure if I can ask you this. But I’ve had a few boyfriends and now I’m going to get married. I’ve never actually had an orgasm.
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Steer clear of this man
Dear Gabriel,
I met the most sensitive wonderful guy on a chatsite. We’ve been talking daily and, this may sound pathetic, but we’re in love. He knows me better than anyone, without ever having met me. But now he wants to come to this country to meet me. He’s a Romanian.
Characters on the Couch
Does it mean he doesn’t love me?
Dear Gabriel,
Why do you think men never seem able to say I love you? Every day I tell my boyfriend that I love him. And he always seems to like it. But he never says anything.
Characters on the Couch
Nothing wrong with internet dating
Dear Gabriel,
Don’t ask me why, but my friend and I went on a dating site the other night. Blame the tequilas, I suppose. Bit sad, don’t you think? 2 (fairly) attractive girls in their late 20s. It’s not like we never, ever have a date, but then again, there we were on a Saturday night googling old boyfriends instead of being out.
Characters on the Couch
How can I stop myself?
Dear Gabriel
I broke up with my boyfriend three months ago but I still have powerful feelings for him. The trouble is, when he comes knocking at my door I sleep with him.
Characters on the Couch
Betrayal
Dear Gabriel
I never used to be jealous of my partner until she betrayed me. In fact I used to enjoy the fact that other women found her attractive.
Characters on the Couch
Are secrets okay in intimate relationships?
Dear Gabriel
I have kept a secret from my lover. If you don’t reveal everything in an intimate relationship, does that pose a danger to the relationship?