Love on Screen vs. Love in Real Life: What the Hit Show Couples Therapy Reveals That Romcoms Leave Out

From When Harry Met Sally to Love Actually, romantic comedies make us laugh, cry, and cheer for love. They give us quirky meet-cutes, grand gestures, and happy-ever-afters. But as fun as they are, romcoms often skip over what love looks like after the credits roll. For many of us, those stories have shaped what we expect from relationships, often unhelpfully in ways that leave us confused, disappointed, and at a loss when real life doesn’t turn out the same.

That’s where the hit TV series Couples Therapy feels like such a stark contrast and perhaps why it has become such a hit phenomenon: instead of first dates and big declarations, it shows us the work, the vulnerability, and the courage of two people trying to stay connected through life’s hardest moments. Here's what the TV show reveals about relationships in real life and the value of couples therapy we see in our offices (well away from the cameras!):

More Than Just the Waiting Room: A Place of Hope

There is a quiet, almost suspended moment in the opening scenes of the couples in the waiting room. Time feels slower. You can see the weight of anticipation on each couple’s face, the way their hands fidget, a nervous laugh escapes, or their search for meaning on one of the therapist's abstract artworks on the wall.

Seeing couples sit in the waiting room is perhaps one of the most poignant moments in the show. It is never easy to admit when things feel off track or even broken, but showing up is a powerful act of hope. Therapy begins with the belief that your relationship matters enough to try.

In our work, we honor that courage. Whether your relationship is in crisis or you just feel distant, we see the decision to sit down together as already a step toward healing.

Repair Is Where Real Love Grows

Movies and romcoms often paint a picture of effortless love: that once you find “the one,” everything just falls into place. Sometimes they include the dramatic tension of one major conflict followed by a grand reunion that ushers in the happily ever after. But real relationships are not like this. As Couples Therapy shows us time and again, life throws curveballs that place immense stress on relationships, resentments can quietly build over time, and old patterns of relating can leave each partner feeling unseen or misunderstood. The truth is that even the most loving partners hurt each other at times.

That is not a sign of failure or a lack of care, but simply a sign of being human. Ruptures are an inevitable part of being in relationship. What matters most is not avoiding conflict or imperfection, but how we respond afterward.

When we lean into repair by trying to truly understand our partner, acknowledging the hurt, and taking accountability, these moments can actually deepen trust and intimacy. Repair is not a one-time act, but ongoing work that continues throughout our relational lives. And while romcoms may skip over this part, in real life, repair is what makes lasting love possible.

Communication is Harder Than It Looks

In romcoms, misunderstandings tend to get resolved in one heartfelt speech. Real life is slower. Words get tangled, tones get misread, and years of hurt can make listening feel impossible.

What Couples Therapy shows so well is how transformative it can be when both partners finally feel heard. In therapy, we slow conversations down, making room for listening and understanding. Over time, couples begin to communicate in ways that build trust and a more robust sense of feeling seen and understood.

Every Relationship is Unique

No two couples in Couples Therapy look the same, and neither do the couples we see in our practice. Some are navigating the demands and chaos of parenthood, others are healing after infidelity, and others are carrying grief, financial strain, or the weight of discrimination. Therapy meets you where you are, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.

Like Couples Therapy, we also work flexibly. Sometimes one partner engages in individual therapy before couples work can move forward. Sometimes therapy helps couples stay together, and sometimes couples want support through thoughtful, intentional decisions about separation. What you will never find here, as in the TV show, is a therapist telling you what to do. Our role is to support your goals and help you write your own story.

What Makes Our Couples Therapy Unique

Where our work differs from what you see on the TV show is that it's not unusual to see couples in our therapy rooms discussing their favourite movies, listening to a song that is meaningful to them, or even playing video or role-playing games in sessions (we haven't seen that on an episode of Couples Therapy yet!).

We are committed to helping you navigate difficult conversations in ways that keep you both talking, feeling connected, and inviting joy and laughter back into your relationship to help you reconnect. To that end, we recognize the power of cultural touchstones that are engaging and meaningful for you.

Rewriting Your Story, Together

What we see in couples therapy every day at A New Hope Therapy Center is that relationships rarely follow a single path. They are complex, evolving, and deeply human. That’s why couples therapy is so powerful: it creates space to rewrite the story together, with honesty and hope. If you would like to explore couples therapy with us, reach out to us today.

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A self-described geek, Maria Laquerre-Diego is a CEO and Owner who is committed to increasing access to mental health services and breaking down the stigma surrounding therapy services. As a therapist turned CEO, Maria has developed a unique perspective when it comes to mental health and the barriers surrounding mental health treatment. Influenced by her time at New Mexico State University in the Family and Consumer Science department and the University of New Hampshire’s Marriage and Family Therapy department, Maria has turned her dedication to giving back and supporting future generations of therapists. In addition to supporting mental health providers, Maria takes an active role in addressing the continued stigma of mental health services through the use of pop culture – everything from movies and television shows to superheroes and Disney characters. Maria has spoken about mental health at several local events, has served as an officer on professional boards, and has provided training to clinicians all over the country while maintaining her and her family’s roots as Aggies! Outside of the office, Maria can be found spending time with her family and loved ones, exploring the world through travel, and creating cosplays for herself, her husband, and their two little ones. Maria is always happy to talk about Star Wars, Marvel, and mental health and can be contacted through her practice website www.anewhopetc.org