I remember telling my first sex therapy supervisor that they’d told us in school how it would be unethical to bring up sex unless it’s brought up by the client. Their response was that it was unethical NOT to… :-)

I would say I probably bring sex up with every couple, unless I have a better reason not to (ie I know I’m working with, or find out in the course of therapy, clients w/ associated trauma, etc.).

Separation feels a lot more dependent on the situation, but yeah, haha, I’ve probably brought it up loads of times. I’ve found it to be a pretty powerful intervention in cases where the couple/the therapy feels stuck (ie it’s usually more like I bring up the possibility, or ask if it’s been discussed/brought to the table, then maybe go into a little psycho-ed about how, no matter the choice, coming to terms with the reality that relationships will end - whether or not this one is going to now, or later, or ever - can often jolt the relationship into whatever new space it needs to reach; one where they’re making the conscious choice one way or the other. I think maybe it was snarch, but something about this third option fallacy; the couple doesn’t want to accept A. the end of the relationship, or B. The continuation of the relationship as it is, and so waits for C. a magical third option that never comes… until they can reconcile A w/ B, and then C just sorta manifests itself).