Terry Real

Terry Real is a family therapist, author, and speaker whose clinical work has influenced perspectives on relationships, masculinity, and emotional connection. Real is the author of four books, including the New York Times bestseller "Us: Getting Past You and Me to Build a More Loving Relationship." He has also written "I Don't Want to Talk About It: Overcoming the Secret Legacy of Male Depression," "How Can I Get Through to You? Reconnecting Men and Women," and "The New Rules of Marriage: What You Need to Make Love Work."

Real's contributions to psychology began with his examination of male depression. His first book, "I Don't Want to Talk About It," explores the challenges men face with intimacy and emotional expression. Drawing from personal experience, Real emphasizes the importance of addressing male depression and its impact on relationships. His work critiques modern culture's focus on individualism and its effects on interpersonal dynamics, a theme present in his writing and teaching.

Real developed Relational Life Therapy (RLT), an approach to couples therapy that informs his books, courses, and professional trainings. He has served as a senior faculty member at the Family Institute of Cambridge in Massachusetts and as a Clinical Fellow at the Meadows Institute in Arizona. Real has worked with individuals, couples, and therapists, and founded the Relational Life Institute, which offers workshops and professional training in RLT methodology.

Through these trainings, mental health professionals gain practical tools for couples therapy and relationship counseling. Real also serves as Board Chair and President of the Relational Life Foundation, which aims to integrate RLT into academic programs at colleges and universities worldwide.

Real's work has been featured on NBC Nightly News, Today, Good Morning America, the CBS Early Show, Oprah, New York Times, Psychology Today, Esquire, The Washington Post, and in academic publications. He is recognized for translating psychological concepts into practical guidance for relationship health and emotional well-being.