Public disclaimer
Relationship Field Guide provides education and communication tools. It doesn't diagnose, provide psychotherapy, replace medical or mental-health care, or determine whether a relationship is safe.
Don't use mutual-cycle framing for
- Physical violence
- Threats or intimidation
- Stalking or monitoring
- Sexual coercion
- Destruction of property
- Financial captivity
- Retaliation for telling the truth
- Fear of leaving
- Child or dependent endangerment
Clinical escalation
Recommend professional evaluation when:
- Depression or other mental-health symptoms persist or impair daily life
- There are thoughts of death, self-harm, or suicide
- Trauma symptoms are severe or worsening
- Substance use creates safety, medical, legal, parenting, or financial risk
- Sexual pain, dysfunction, trauma, or consent concerns require specialized care
- The couple can't discuss problems without threats or severe escalation
Editorial guardrails
- Don't imply that attachment style causes abuse.
- Don't imply that empathy requires continued access to a partner.
- Don't make one partner responsible for regulating another adult indefinitely.
- Don't use cultural sensitivity to excuse control or harm.
- Don't publish a breakup script without safety caveats.
- Don't present sex as an obligation or a relationship-performance requirement.
- Don't promise repair after betrayal.
- Use “may,” “can,” and “often” when discussing cultural or psychological patterns.
Review requirements
Before launch, obtain review from:
- Licensed couples therapist familiar with attachment-based approaches
- Clinician or researcher experienced with Asian American men and culturally responsive care
- Domestic-violence specialist
- Certified sex therapist or qualified sexual-health educator
- Localization reviewers for each public language