Emma and Matt Willis say they've been to therapy - 'it's changed our relationship

They have one of the strongest marriages in showbiz, and now Matt and Emma Willis have revealed therapy is the secret to their relationship.

The couple met in 2004 and married in 2008. Today, they credit therapy with helping them maintain their bond, which was often tested by obstacles. While they no longer attend couple's therapy, they're always open for another visit to their therapist's office, if the need ever returns.

“It’s been transformative,” says Matt Willis. “It’s changed our relationship. The result was definitely worth it.” Emma Willis agrees. “We learned how to communicate,” she says.

“When things happen – individually or as a couple – you can’t always see each other’s point of view. Friends will usually take your side but a therapist helps you see clearly. It’s been phenomenal for us.”

While the pair’s careers are thriving, they always prioritise their marriage, alongside raising their three children – Isabelle, 15, Ace, 13, and nine-year-old Trixie. “We go on date nights all the time because we know how important it is for our marriage,” Matt says.

And if they had to choose, they’d happily trade a fancy dinner for a therapy session. “Nothing’s been more important than going to therapy together,” Matt says.

“It’s allowed us to really see each other. We never row – it’s been 20 years.” Now the pair are sharing their therapy journey with the nation through their new BBC One show Change Your Mind, Change Your Life.

The couple team up with leading therapists – Owen O’Kane, Julia Samuel MBE, Professor Steve Peters and Dr Fatoumata Jatta – to follow Brits facing everyday challenges, from grief to anxiety, as they try to transform their lives with therapy.

Emma, 49, and Matt, 42, leave each participant with an expert, checking in between sessions to offer support. “The duty of care on the show is next level,” Emma says.

“Our job is to see them along the way, when they’ve had time to reflect and decompress. But there is a huge care team around the participants, not just the therapists.”

In 2023, Matt opened up in a TV documentary about his battles with alcohol and drugs, which remain one of the reasons he’s diligent about his mental health.

Over the years, he’s gathered a toolkit of strategies. “He’s a master of mental health and wellbeing,” says Emma. “He’s done and tried it all.”

But therapy wasn’t always easy for him to talk about. “I’ve had a lot of therapy but, for a long time, I didn’t really mention anything about it,” Matt says. “Because I knew there was a stigma attached. But I’ve had such incredible experiences with it.”

Even Emma once resisted the idea. “I was that person saying, ‘I don’t need therapy.’ I didn’t feel like I needed it,” she says. “I didn’t realise I had anxiety until we went to therapy.

When I mentioned Matt playfully calling me a control freak, the therapist said, ‘No, that’s anxiety.’ So, with that, you need to be across everything because of an inner fear. That completely changed how I saw myself.”

Over time, both Emma and Matt learned how life-changing therapy could be. “Keeping things in can send you to a dark place,” Emma says. “The minute you let it out, you start to feel lighter, both physically and emotionally.”

Emma was particularly moved by one participant called James. “He resonated with me. He’s a perfectionist and a huge people pleaser,” she says. “He never thinks he’s good enough and that he’s going to fail. I’m a lot like that.”

Meanwhile, Matt felt an immediate bond with another, Ben. “I really felt for him,” Matt says. “He’s really young and we chatted for hours, off camera as well. I saw a younger version of me.”

Recently, it was Emma’s physical health that needed attention. She revealed on Instagram that she had unknowingly been living with a hole in her heart since birth.

“It’s really weird to live with something in our body that we don’t know about,” she says. “It’s fixed so I’m good and there’s no physical pain.”

Still the emotional aftermath has been tougher to heal. “I have a lot of health anxiety,” she says. “So I’m always checking. Every time my heart flutters or feels strange, I panic.”

At the same time, she credits her attentiveness to her body for eventually helping her spot the issue. “I’m glad I eventually discovered it,” she says.

While Emma and Matt are helping destigmatise mental health topics, they know the journey is far from over. “We love this show and we want

to do more with it,” Matt says. “Raising awareness makes a real difference. Awareness has grown massively over the last decade, but it’s still early days. There’s so much more to do and we’re always open to learning about these things.”

With their vulnerability and commitment to others, Emma and Matt hope to show that healing is possible – and that nobody has to struggle alone.

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