Sex Recession?

What Tess, Craig and Their Daughter Taught a Nation About Coming Back to Love

On July 7th, a couple named Tess and Craig sat down on national television and told the truth about their marriage. Tess and Craig shared this journey on SBS Insight, in an episode called Sex Recession? — and it has touched a nation.

Together since they met at University, theirs was an almost sexless relationship after they had children. Disconnection had become the norm. Lovemaking, when it happened at all, only really worked when Tess had a glass of wine beforehand to switch off and let go. That was their story for decades — until one decision changed everything, and they found their way to full connection, real intimacy, and lovemaking that is easy, present, and full of love.

That decision was coming to the Making Love Retreat in May 2024.

What makes this clip above so powerful isn't just Tess and Craig's transformation, which is a celebration in itself — it's their daughter Gené. At twenty-four, Gené speaks with remarkable intelligence and openness about sex, relationships, and what she's witnessed in her own parents. When the moment comes when Gené is revealed as Tess and Craig's daughter and begins to speak, something shifts. Everyone's hearts are touched. Watching from my lounge room, my heart swelled, and my spirit soared.

Hearing Gené's words was the realisation of a dream I've held for a long time — the ripple effect on children and families when parents' hearts are set free, and love is given passage back into a relationship. This is the vision I saw in 2008, when I asked Diana Richardson — creator of the Making Love Retreat and founder of the Slow Sex movement in Switzerland— to bring this work to Australia.

For over fifteen years now, on the solid foundations of Diana's 'Making Love approach', I have deepened and refined my interpretation of this intimacy pathway for couples. It is an honour and a privilege to do this work, and to watch it ripple out — not just into a couple's relationship, but into their family, and now, into a national conversation.

Since the episode aired, the response has been extraordinary. Comment threads have filled with women sharing their own experiences of sex, intimacy and menopause, and how deeply Tess's story resonated. My upcoming retreat in October is fully booked with a growing waitlist, with a large waitlist already building for May 2027. But don't worry if you have missed out. There are plenty of opportunities to create this transformation for yourselves with me, so stay tuned.

What the episode revealed

Sex Recession? highlighted just how varied and complex our experiences of sex really are. But the thread running through all of it was this: if sex isn't coupled with love — if love isn't in the equation, and we can't find our way back to it — it leaves us, as humans, feeling hollow.

Authentic intimacy is a return to love. It is the most powerful expression we as humans desire and need. Tess and Craig are proof of what's possible when a couple is given simple, powerful tools for creating real connection — and Gené is proof of what becomes possible for the next generation when they do.

Let's bring love and sex back together. Transforming sex into love, one couple at a time.

Watch the full episode

Australians can catch up on Sex Recession? now on SBS On Demand. Unfortunately, international readers cannot access the whole episode. But the clip above shows the highlight of the whole show to me.

Join us

9–15 October 2026 — Byron Bay Fully booked. Waitlist open here.

9–15 May 2027 — Noosa Registrations open in August. [Join the waitlist to secure your interest →]

Click here to read more about The Making Love Retreat

Private retreats are also available by arrangement, for couples who would like to work one-on-one with me.

If Tess and Craig's story stirred something in you — if you recognised your own relationship somewhere in theirs — I'd love to hear from you. [Get in touch →] 

Or book a call with me, and we can discuss how I can help. Book a free 30-min Zoom call.

 And Let's Make Love our Priority.