Nick and Vanessa Lachey explain how couples therapy makes them better parents
- Nick Lachey spoke to "Today" about his relationship with his wife, Vanessa.
- Nick said attending couples therapy has made them better parents to their three children.
Nick Lachey revealed how attending couples therapy with his wife, Vanessa, makes them better parents.
Nick, 48, and Vanessa, 41, celebrated their 11th wedding anniversary on Friday after getting married in July 2011. The couple share three children: Camden, 9, Brooklyn, 7, and Phoenix, 5. Nick told Rachel Paula Abrahamson from "Today" that he credits couples therapy for helping make his relationship with Vanessa strong.
"We went before we got married and we still go to this day," Nick told "Today." "I think that's an important part of maintaining a strong relationship."
In addition to making them better listeners and learning how to give helpful feedback, Nick said the sessions also positively impact their children.
"Your kids are absorbing your energy and your vibe, and if it's tense and it's not working, they're going to pick up on that. That's detrimental to them," Nick told the outlet. "The healthier you are as couple, the healthier you are going to be as parents."
Nick, who co-hosts Netflix's "Love is Blind" with his wife, admitted that they still get into the occasional fight.
"Disagreements are part of any relationship — whether it's a friendship or a marriage," Nick told Today. "What matters is how you reconcile those disagreements. You need [to] treat each other with respect even when you don't see eye-to-eye on something. You want to set a good example for your kids."
Nick compared maintaining relationships to playing sports, noting that athletes do everything they can to be the best.
"Marriage is challenging — and getting sound advice from an impartial third party is one of the healthiest things you could possibly do," Nick told the outlet.
Nick was previously married to Jessica Simpson before the pair divorced in 2003. In April 2006, Vanessa starred in Nick's music video for "What's Left of Me." She told Billboard in 2017 that the video was the beginning of their relationship.
The couple began dating during the summer of 2006 and later became engaged in November 2010. They later held their wedding ceremony in July 2011 on a private island in the Caribbean.
On Friday, Nick and Vanessa shared Instagram posts celebrating their wedding anniversary.
"For the last 16 years @nicklachey has made me feel like WE can do IMPOSSIBLE THINGS! Guys, don't settle! Find your Love & work hard to keep them!" Vanessa wrote in her caption. "Happy 11th Anniversary, Baby! I Love YOU and I'm proud of US!"
Nick wrote in his caption: "It's hard to believe I've spent 11 years married to this wonderful woman. V, I love you more now than the day we said "I Do". The life we've built together is more than I could've ever dreamed of. Thank you for your unconditional love and thank you for being YOU! I love you. Happy Anniversary."