I want to end my stifling marriage – but can’t bear how much hurt I’d cause
Dear Annalisa, I am in my late 40s, married for 20 years with two teenagers, and I feel trapped. For several years I have known that I…
My adult daughters are angry with me for leaving the country. What can I do?
Dear Annalisa, I am a 70-year-old woman, I left the UK 20 years ago and now live in Europe. I have three daughters who are still angry at me…
Can I ever heal after the lack of love my birth mother showed me?
Dear Annalisa, I am a much-loved adopted child. Both my adoptive parents died several years ago. I was told that my birth mother apparently loved me…
My friend’s ex gives him no parental rights over their son. How can I help him?
Dear Annalisa, Five years ago, my best friend became the father of a baby boy with his then partner of over 10 years. When the baby was born,…
My ex and I want to be together. Should we both break up with our partners?
Dear Annalisa, I was married to a wonderful man for 30 years. We had a great relationship, and shared many interests and a sense of humour. I had…
I want a divorce but my wife’s past trauma means she won’t let me
Dear Annalisa, My wife and I have had issues for almost the entirety of our relationship. For more than a decade, she has struggled with intimacy, compounded – we…
My ex and I argue over my time with our daughter. How can I make things better?
Dear Annalisa, I have been divorced for eight years and my daughter, who is 10, lives with her mum. I usually see her every other weekend. I say…
I’m very happy with my partner, but why won’t he divorce his wife?
Dear Annalisa, I’m in a relationship with a man who is separated from his wife but not divorced. He left her five years ago and says their…
I left my husband on good terms but now I feel out of control
Dear Annalisa, I left my husband last summer. We have three young children who live with me, but see their dad regularly. Things are cordial and…
My husband wants a divorce after 30 years. What do I tell the children? The Guardian.
Dear Annalisa Some time ago, out of the blue, my husband told me he wanted a divorce. I was horrified and astonished – we had been…
Annalisa Barbieri 