Couples Therapy Australia is back for its second season, and three brave new couples will dive into their long-standing conflicts, explore their personal histories, and seek connection and a new compassion for each other.
Premiering on Friday, 4 November, exclusive to Paramount+, the docuseries brings viewers into the authentic and visceral experience of weekly therapy with registered clinical psychotherapist, Marryam Chehelnabi.
This season will see Chehelnabi guide the couples through deep trauma; the dilemmas of a modern mum: work versus family; and how much influence parents should have on their adult children’s relationships.
Chehelnabi, who was struck by the courage the couples have to discuss their challenges, said: “I see my role as helping them see and say the truth to one another.”
Couples Therapy Australia is based on the original US version which first aired on Showtime in 2019.
Earlier this year, Mediaweek spoke to Sarah Thornton, EP of Couples Therapy Australia and Network 10’s head of popular factual about what made the show so “incredibly different to the way you would ordinarily make a documentary.”
See also: How Paramount+ balanced voyeurism and dignity on Couples Therapy Australia
Thornton said it made perfect sense to bring the format into the Paramount+ catalogue: “We have a strong interest in prestige reality, and we look for series that we think really fit that bill. Couples Therapy feels pretty unique, and it’s content that I don’t think you can get everywhere.
“When I first watched it, it felt incredibly groundbreaking. The end product feels high end, very unique, and the storytelling is quite different as well. It’s a really interesting watch.”
Thornton says that the “most important piece of the puzzle” was finding their therapist. After an extensive casting process, the team decided that clinical psychotherapist Marryam Chehelnabi was the right fit.
Chehelnabi has experience working with people seeking help with complex trauma, PTSD, domestic violence, personality disorders, and addictions. She also has a particular interest in couples with complex presentations.
Click below for a sneak peek at Couples Therapy Australia: