Welcome to Clarity Counseling Seattle
Featured In National Media Outlets
Justin Pere, LMHC, CST, CGT, is a trusted voice on relationships, men’s issues, sex and intimacy, and midlife emotional health. Here you’ll find a collection of his national media features, expert commentary, and published contributions.
Over the past two decades, I’ve had the opportunity to contribute to national media outlets and podcasts on topics like relationships, sex and intimacy, men’s emotional health, midlife
transitions, and online connection. This page brings those appearances together in one place so clients, journalists, and other professionals can easily see the kinds of conversations I’m part of beyond the therapy room.
As the founder of Clarity Counseling Seattle and a Certified Sex Therapist and Certified Gottman Therapist, my goal in every interview is the same as it is in therapy: to offer grounded, compassionate, practical insight that helps people feel less alone and more understood.
Featured National Media
The New York Times — Emotional Labor and “Mankeeping”
I was interviewed for a New York Times article examining the emotional and logistical labor that women often carry in straight relationships (sometimes referred to as "mankeeping"), and how this shows up in day-to-day life. We discussed how unspoken expectations, resentment, and unequal emotional work can erode connection over time—and how couples can begin to name and rebalance that load together.
Read the article: The toll that emotional labor puts on women in straight relationships
AARP — Online Friendships and Emotional Connection in Midlife
In a recent AARP piece, I was interviewed about how online friendships and social media affect emotional closeness for adults in midlife and beyond. We explored the difference between feeling connected on the surface versus feeling truly seen and supported, especially for men who may already find it hard to open up emotionally.
Read the original article (PDF): “Are Online Friendships Really Friendships?”
Read my related blog post: Are Online Friendships Enough in Midlife? Insights from My AARP Interview
The Seattle Times — Suicide Rates Among Older Adults in Washington
I was interviewed for a Seattle Times investigation into why suicide rates among older adults in Washington are among the highest in the country. We discussed the emotional, relational, and systemic factors that often go unnoticed in later life—including isolation, chronic illness, caregiver burnout, identity changes, and the ways men in particular may struggle to reach out for support.
Read the article: Why suicide rates are so high among older adults in Washington
Read the article (PDF): Download PDF
GQ — Competitive Friendships
For GQ Magazine, I spoke about competitive friendships: what happens when comparison, rivalry, or subtle one-upmanship begins to shape the dynamic between friends. We discussed how this shows up particularly for men, how it can strain closeness, and how to move from competition toward more mutual, supportive connection.
Read the article: Are competitive friendships ever healthy?
The Gottman Institute — Relationships, Sex, and Men’s Emotional Lives
I’m a contributing writer for The Gottman Institute, where I’ve written articles on emotional intelligence, men’s friendships, sex therapy, and modern relationship challenges. These pieces are grounded in Gottman Method Couples Therapy and my clinical work with couples and individuals.
Author page: Justin Pere on The Gottman Institute
- Emotional Intelligence in Relationships
- Why Men Struggle with Close Connections
- Contemplating Entering Into Sex Therapy
- What Is Love Bombing?
Therapy4Dads Podcast — Fatherhood and the Gottman Method
On the Therapy4Dads podcast, I joined host Travis Goodman to talk about how Gottman Method principles apply to fatherhood, co-parenting, and men’s emotional lives. We discussed bids for connection, emotional attunement, and practical ways dads can show up more fully in their relationships with partners and children.
Listen to the episode: Therapy4Dads: Applying the Gottman Method to Fatherhood
PracticeCare Podcast — Growing a Group Therapy Practice
On the PracticeCare podcast, I shared the story of growing Clarity Counseling Seattle from a solo practice into a long-standing group practice. We talked about the realities of leadership, building a values-driven team, and what it means to create a practice that supports both clinicians and clients over time.
Listen to the episode: Growing from a solo practice to a successful group practice
Topics I’m Often Asked About
Journalists and producers frequently reach out to me for commentary on:
- Sex and intimacy in long-term relationships and marriages
- Low desire, desire discrepancy, and sexual avoidance
- Men’s emotional health, friendship, and vulnerability
- Midlife and later-life transitions (identity, caregiving, grief, aging)
- Online connection, loneliness, and digital-age relationships
- Infidelity, betrayal trauma, and affair recovery
- Healthy communication and conflict patterns in couples
If you’re covering a story related to relationships, sex, men’s emotional lives, or midlife transitions, I’m happy to discuss whether I’m a good fit as a source.
For Journalists & Media Inquiries
I’m based in Seattle, Washington, and I work with clients throughout the state through Clarity Counseling Seattle, a group practice specializing in relationships, sex therapy, men's mental health, and midlife concerns. My media schedule is limited, but I do my best to accommodate requests.
For media inquiries, please contact our office through the Let’s Get Started page and mention that your request is media-related.
If you’re a prospective client looking for support, you can learn more about our services here: