Former First Lady Michelle Obama has opened up about seeking marriage counselling.
She revealed how she and Barack had difficult times in their relationship especially after her husband first joined the state legislature, several years before he became US President.
At the time the couple were going through in vitro fertilisation (IVF) to try to conceive a baby and Mrs Obama said it was a struggle when she was at home alone and forced to administer IVF shots herself.
In an interview with American TV Channel ABC, the former First Lady said: "Marriage counselling for us was one of those ways where we learned how to talk out our differences.
"I know too many young couples who struggle and think that somehow there's something wrong with them. And I want them to know that Michelle and Barack Obama, who have a phenomenal marriage and who love each other, we work on our marriage.
"And we get help with our marriage when we need it."
Michelle Obama has revealed how marriage counselling has helped her and Barack. Photo credit Senior Airman Ryan Sonnier
She told how the pair saw a counsellor 鈥渁 handful of times鈥� and that she came to realise she was more 鈥渋n charge鈥� of her happiness than she had realised.
鈥淭his was my pivot point鈥� My moment of self-arrest,鈥� she said.
Mrs Obama also described how she felt 鈥渓ost and alone鈥� following a miscarriage 20 years ago and revealed that both the couple鈥檚 daughters Malia and Sasha were conceived through IVF.
She has revealed further details about these moments in her life in her book Becoming, which will be released on 13 November.
To find a relationship counsellor, visit our Therapist directory.