A report recently by the Department of Education provided the headlines in one newspaper: “Marriage counselling could spell the end for relationship.” Eh? Surely the opposite is the case? Indeed, I know couples whose marriage, hitting the proverbial "rocky patch", has hugely benefited from such counselling.

But it appears, according to the report, that most people would rather sort out their problems privately or with the help of family. Resorting to professional help can be “intrinsically linked with feelings of failure and defeat”. This seems a great pity. And how accurate is the report anyway? Apparently it derived its results from interviews and focus groups with people in long-term relationships. It suggests that most difficulties in marriage centre on parenting, in-laws and infidelity. Sex and money aren’t mentioned: two combustible areas I would have thought.