Clinical Sexologist & Researcher
Hi, I'm Anna Elton
I help people understand what keeps desire alive—what draws us close, what distances us, and how to sustain connection through every phase of love.
What keeps desire
The Formula of Desire explores the science, psychology, and emotion behind connection—why attraction fades, how intimacy evolves, and what it really takes to stay close over time.
Available: August 1, 2026
Part science.
part story.
Part guide.
01 — Assessment
Discover Your Relational
Desire Score
Every relationship has a pulse.
The Relational Desire Score reveals where yours stands and how connection, intimacy, and emotional safety measure up against stress, distance, and unmet needs.
02 — Framework
The Wave of Desire
Why attraction changes over time.
Desire isn’t static—it’s a wave. It moves through phases shaped by biology, connection, life stress, and the stories we tell ourselves about our relationships.
03 — Framework
The Three Selves
The Me, We, and Us
Balance who you are as an Individual, as a Couple, and as Family—the foundation for sustainable intimacy and connection.
Anna Elton, PhD
Clinical Sexologist &
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Anna writes the Psychology Today blog Life, Love, Etc. and hosts a biweekly show, where she explores love, communication, and and relationship dynamics.
“Curiosity is the most underrated aphrodisiac in long-term relationships.”
— ANNA ELTON, PHD
Latest Insights
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New research finds what actually predicts sexual well-being.
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The paradox of communication.
Flirt to turn moments into connection.
Sexual satisfaction doesn’t mean what we think it does.
One overlooked pattern changes a relationship.
