Hi there.
We're the creators of Relationship Fortification, and we're delighted to have you here.
Before we continue, let's get something out of the way:
neither of us are therapists, nor are we academics*. We haven't rigorously studied the science of relationships.
We're just two people who love each other a lot, and found an effective way to improve our relationship. We'd like to share that approach, in hope that it helps you too.
*But we've consulted with some brilliant people who are therapists and academics! Keep scrolling.
Nick Manluccia
Nick loves thinking about how people think. He works as a User Experience Researcher at Google, and holds a Master's in Psychology from New York University, where he moonlights as an adjunct instructor.
Lamees Alshawkani
Lamees values clarity and transparency. She is a practicing doctor of optometry in New York's Soho neighborhood, where patients love her active listening and caring bedside manner. She is also a fashion entrepreneur focused on her clean, sustainable clothing brand, Sailaal.
Meet our expert advisors
We've partnered with relationship experts and experienced therapists. They've reviewed the relationship fortification process, and are helping us develop additional tools & materials. Their insightful feedback ensures that our recommendations are aligned with best practices.
MBA, MA, CMHC-LP
Nagla Radwan
Nagla is a serious and passionate clinician with a great sense of humor. She works with motivated individuals who want to improve their quality of life and change how they feel, and struggle with codependency, relationships, self-esteem issues, complex trauma, and sexuality.
To learn more or work with Nagla, visit her website, nagla-radwan.clientsecure.me
LCSW
Grace Berman
Grace has expertise in treating anxiety and ADHD in highly sensitive individuals. She provides a compassionate and warm treatment environment for child, adolescent, and adult clients. Grace specializes in working with parents both as individuals and couples to manage parenting stressors and to provide interventions to support children's flourishing
To learn more or work with Grace, visit her page at rosscenter.com/team/grace-berman-lcsw/
PhD, LCSW
Dr. Dulcinea Pitagora
Dr. Pitagora offers affirming psychotherapy and sex therapy for individuals, couples, multiple-partner relationships, and poly and leather families, both in-person and remotely. They are an expert in alternative sexualities, and specialize in working with adults in the kink/BDSM, polyamorous/non-monogamous, trans/gender-nonconforming/non-binary, LGBQIA+, and sex work communities.
To learn more or work with Dr. Pitagora, visit their website, www.dulcineapitagora.com
Our story
We met in Bermuda back in 2019, but the timing wasn't quite right. Lamees lived in New York City and wasn't looking for a relationship. Nick lived in London, and was dating someone at the time.
But we stayed in touch and reconnected during the pandemic. Our first date? A 24-hour turnaround trip from NYC to Miami, to catch a boat party hosted by our Bermuda friends. Unfortunately, we missed our flight because we were too busy flirting with each other at the gate ("We called you on the loudspeaker five times," said an unsympathetic gate attendant).
We scrambled, found another flight, and made it just as the boat started to depart. That would be the first of many challenges we overcame as a couple—though many of the later ones we addressed with fortification.
Why are you doing this?
We love seeing couples thrive, and believe in the power of conscious communication. We've seen social posts about similar practices go viral, and a few articles about related topics—but not a comprehensive "how to" guide for candid, recurring relationship conversations.
So we decided to create one.
