Most people would rather resolve relationship problems privately between themselves or with the help of close friends and family.
But if they do resort to professional help then it was “intrinsically linked with feelings of failure and defeat”, the Department for Education report suggests.
It also made individuals feel weak and that by the time a couple decided to attend relationship counselling it was often too late “to repair a relationship”.
“Many of the participants felt that a couple should be able to deal with their relationship problems privately… without having to rely on external relationship support,” the report said.