Remember the first “look of love” when your new partner would gaze at you with adoring eyes?

There is more to the looks your partner gives than you would guess. Facial expressions are terribly important to relationships and we all become amateur behaviour experts when it comes to deciphering our partner's own unique variety.

This is why I was concerned when a client reported that her husband had adopted a new look. And this look happened to be one of the key signals that a relationship is on its last legs and love is under threat.

What did Stella, 32, read from the expression of her husband Mike? In a word: contempt. It flickered across his face with growing regularity whenever they had a tiny tiff or a major row. Alarmingly, a number of relationship studies have found that once that look of contempt is evident it is an indication that a partner has had festering, negative feelings for so long that there may be no turning back.

Therapy notes: What to do when he hasn't phoned

"I'll call you," he says, then he doesn't. You'd think this would be left to teen boys, but it's not, says Dr Pam Spurr

BACKGROUND

• Therapy notes: the flaws in a perfectionist

• Therapy notes: What to do when he hasn't phoned

Stella had come for confidence coaching to learn how to promote herself in a better light at work. During our conversations she mentioned the stresses at home and those looks. I urged her to deal head on with her relationship instead. Candid discussions between her and Mike uncovered much bitterness: he felt that she continually relied on him for support yet he felt increasingly unsupported himself. Time will tell if they can turn things around.

If you take note of one look today on your partner's face, and it spells contempt, don't delay in getting to the bottom of things. You're already in the last chance corral for saving your relationship.

Times recommends

• Live fashion Q&A: how to do spring footwear
• Is global warming the new apocalypse?
• Gone shopping: the dreaded wedding list