Couples Therapy TV Celebrities: Providing Discreet Guidance
Couples Therapy TV Celebrities: Providing Discreet Guidance
When I was at the beginning of my education and training path toward a career as a therapist, I never thought about providing couples therapy TV celebrities. It’s one of those things that just naturally happened. I still remember when I received my first call from a famous person asking me to become their relationship therapist. As much as many professionals would say that it doesn’t matter whether a client is a celebrity, I believe there are a few differences.
By working with celebrities over the past years, I noticed they need certain prerequisites to continue seeing their chosen therapist. After all, therapy doesn’t work like a bandage. It’s a process that requires time and effort from all sides involved. When talking about couples therapy for celebrities, the distinction is even more evident.
For example, if you and your spouse are not in the public eye, you will not be worried about someone taking a photograph of you while leaving the therapist’s office. This aspect is just one of the things both a famous person and a therapist should keep in mind. As someone fairly experienced in providing couples therapy for TV celebrities, I’d like to explain the differences and help you understand the therapy process for famous people.
Regular Couples Therapy vs. Couples Therapy for Celebrities
I’ve mentioned the first example of discretion above. However, there are a few more differences between regular and famous couples going to a therapist. Many famous people communicate with their therapist via video call to avoid exposure. This allows both partners to participate from any location without the risk of press leaks.
Privacy & Confidentiality
Just think about the headlines once a journalist receives the information that a famous Hollywood marriage is seeing a couples therapist. Millions of spectators would be entertained by assumptions of divorce, infidelity, and the search for the family’s hidden secrets. On the other hand, a couple whose careers are not that public will not have an issue walking to the therapist’s office or even sharing that information with their circle of intimate friends.
Confidentiality is a must for a celebrity couple therapist. I always warn my celebrity clients of the risk, even if they share that info. If they still want to share it for whatever reason, I advise them to do so after there is no more need for therapy or after they’ve built a solid strategy on how to communicate that information to the media.
Of course, some couples will want to share their experience while going to therapy. Darcey and Georgi visited my office during their show on TLC. Make sure this decision is communicated with your romantic partner and your manager to avoid any unwanted consequences. Discretion is the most important part of my work with celebrities.
External Pressure
Although celebrity couples reach out to therapists to work on their relationship, it’s not the only area of their lives we have to focus on. Celebrities face external pressure around their public image and professional careers. Even in cases where both sides agree that divorce might be the best solution, this decision can be postponed due to external pressure.
Examples can be a movie or album promotion, a recent private or professional scandal, or a big business deal in the near future. All of these external pressures can affect therapy and the decision-making process. Not being able to close a multi-million dollar deal because of divorce news could lead to lower life standards for everyone involved, including children.
Unique Stressors
As a celebrity couples therapist, it’s difficult to truly provide guidance if not aware of the uniqueness of the celebrity lifestyle. How do they deal with fame? How important is their privacy to them? Do they spend a lot of time apart due to work commitments? How important is public perception of their relationship to them?
If you’re not a famous person, someone who never met you personally will not be aware of your existence and your relationship. With social media, everyone can publicly share their opinion about someone’s relationship, marriage, or family. Dealing with all these stressors is not easy. After all, fame doesn’t make you immune to critics.
Professional Barrier
Most celebrities received some type of media training, so they might be reluctant to be authentic in the first few therapy sessions. I’ve noticed such behavior with every one of my celebrity clients, and I completely understand why. Although they hired me, I’m someone they don’t know, and I ask all kinds of personal questions. Of course, they will not jump into their vulnerability from the first second.
It is my job to show them that I can provide them with a safe, non-judgmental space. I often acknowledge the importance of confidentiality in my first session to show them how it’s perfectly expected for them to be a bit reserved towards me at first. That is why it’s one of my proudest moments when I see this type of client opening up to me, and we’re able to dive deeper to help them heal together as couples.
Are You Looking for a Celebrity Couples Therapist?
If you and your partner have never been in couples therapy, it’s important to find a professional with experience in this area. As much as your goal might be the same as that of a regular couple, having a therapist who understands the celebrity lifestyle can be quite helpful.
A therapist without experience in therapy for famous people will need to learn what it means to be a celebrity from your perspective. We all know what the word celebrity means, yet can we imagine how it feels to be one? A therapist with this experience knows the pros and cons of public life.
My final piece of advice is to trust your instincts when selecting a therapist. If it seems natural and easy when talking to them, they are probably a good choice for you. Take it slow and share as much as you feel comfortable at the beginning. You don’t have to rush to find the solution. Therapy should provide you with long-lasting guidance and support, so make sure you choose the right therapist.
About Life Coaching and Therapy
Life Coaching and Therapy (LCAT) is a therapy and coaching practice that transforms our clients lives through our flexibility multi-technique approach and pleasure-skills training provided by systematically trained and licensed therapists!
Get to know our founder and owner, Amanda Pasciucco, (a.k.a. The Sex Healer) PhD, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist (CST) who has developed innovative therapy programs and therapy videos that get results.
Our team of compassionate, licensed therapists and certified sex therapists helps all clients who visit us for a variety of personal, relationship, intimacy and sex problems.
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