Cosmopolitan

Inside Couple Therapy

Once the reserve of relationship Hail Marys for decades-long spouses, in 2026 couples therapy has become practically par for the course among couples of all ages and relationships of all durations. And data proves it works, with the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy reporting that 70% of couples seeing a therapist felt it had positively impacted the relationship.

Of course, sometimes breaking up is the best thing for both people involved, and that doesn’t mean the relationship or the attempts to repair it were a failure — but when it does work, there are usually specific reasons why. “Couples therapy works best when people come with some sense of partnership and shared motivation to understand each other,” says Dr Aoife Drury, a COSRT-accredited psychosexual and relationship therapist. “Even when things feel very difficult, therapy can create a structured space to slow those patterns down and help each partner feel heard. Sometimes that leads to repair and reconnection; other times it helps couples make thoughtful decisions about their