‘Soulmates do not exist’: the surprising rise of wedding therapy

In our new era of 'romantic realism', more and more couples are seeking out counselling before they get married, rather than waiting for impossible problems to arise

When Thomas and Jenny approached a couples therapist before their wedding, they weren't expecting it to become a long-term commitment. "Initially we decided to see a counsellor due to some trust issues in our relationship," he says. "We found premarital therapy incredibly helpful, because it gave us a safe space to communicate with each other without fear of repercussion. It became an important part of the relationship - even when things were going well."

After their wedding this summer, the couple continued to attend sessions while they settled into marriage. By discussing potential problems with an unbiased third party, Thomas says they both felt confident to be more open with each other.