Actors Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard were married in 2013, and surprised many of their fans and followers with an open admission that they regularly attended couples’ therapy.

Their explanation, though, can help couples all over the world break down some stereotypes and do away with the negative connotations that come with seeing a professional marriage counselor.

Kristen told Good Housekeeping, “You do better in the gym with a trainer; you don’t figure out how to cook without reading a recipe. Therapy is not something to be embarrassed about.”

The couple says that they learned from their past experiences, and decided to incorporate expert advice into their marriage from the get go. Dax says, “In my previous relationship, we went to couples’ therapy at the end, and that’s often too late. You can’t go after nine years and start figuring out what patterns you’re in.”

Now, we at SMN don’t think it’s ever too late to seek counseling, but Dax’s point is pretty clear: seeking help now will build important knowledge for maintaining a happy marriage in the future.

This can be a great way to avoid problems before they even start. Counseling can help couples see trouble areas you might not notice yourself, help you learn the tools for effective communication, give you some insight on how to productively deal with conflict – and a number of other benefits.

Dax and Kristen say that seeing a counselor right away helped them overcome some trust issues they faced early in their relationship, and that it’s one of the best decisions they could have made for their marriage.

Too many people think counseling is something reserved for marriages on the brink of collapse, or that marriage tools like the StrongMarriageNow System only help people when they are in trouble. The reality is, however, that professional quality marital advice and information is beneficial to ANY marriage. Being more informed and more prepared will never make your relationship worse.

Take a cue from Dax and Kristen, and consider some tools to strengthen your marriage, even if you aren’t currently struggling. They’re living proof that it’s nothing to feel embarrassed about. Seeking professional help doesn’t mean that your marriage is on the rocks – it means that you’re taking action to make it the best it can be!

For more advice on how to strengthen your marriage, check out the StrongMarriageNow System today!
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Dr. Dana Fillmore and Amy Barnhart, co-Founders, StrongMarriageNow.com