The Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh doesn’t temper or hold back his opinions, one of the many reasons he enjoys such a loyal and robust following both on social media and on his popular daily podcast, The Matt Walsh Show.
Earlier this week, Matt weighed in on the subject of marriage counseling, of a sort. In a post on X, Walsh tweeted:
With almost 15 years of marriage and six kids, l’m better qualified to be a couples therapist than like 95 percent of the people in the profession. The bonus is that my sessions would usually be very short. Most marriage problems can be solved if you both stop acting like stupid children and get over yourselves. End of session. That will be 600 dollars, thank you.
Matt and his wife, Alissa, have been married since 2011. Though a celebrated curmudgeon and contrarian, he often speaks lovingly about his wife and children, advocating strongly for having a large family. He’s talked about the controlled beautiful chaos of children and how it beats the quiet of a childless home.
Another one of Matt’s many gifts is his ability to synthesize complex issues down into very succinct soundbites. This tack has triggered many a radical who loses their mind over some of his many provocative statements over the years. It might be bad for the mental health of those who oppose a social conservative point of view, but it’s very good for clicks and ratings.
So, what of Matt’s take on marriage or couple’s counseling? Is it true that most marital problems would be solved or never happen in the first place if husbands and wives were less selfish and childish and more selfless and mature?
It’s not clear from Matt’s take whether he’s talking about all marriage counseling or drawing any distinction between advice and therapy offered from a Christian and secular perspective. Ideally, Christian counselors integrate their biblical faith and training. They don’t subscribe to many of the very troublesome aspects you might find in non-Christian practices.
When counselors don’t acknowledge or recognize that God needs to be the foundation of a healthy marriage, it’s not surprising that marital conflicts are more difficult to tackle. That’s because Christians and non-Christians have a very different view on the purpose of marriage itself.
But would most problems really be solved by couples “getting over themselves”?
“I wish it was that simple,” said Dr. Bob Paul, vice president of the Focus on the Family Marriage Institute.
“I honestly would love to work myself out of a job and wish my profession was unneeded.”
Dr. Paul went on to talk about how our sin nature “sets up an ideal environment to make intimate relationships challenging.”
Geremy Keeton, a licensed counselor who heads up our counseling team here at the ministry, is in agreement.
“If only our human psyche, wounds, and automatic responses operated that logically, straightforward and simply,” he said. “Bob Newhart employed this model of counseling. Would love it, if it only worked.”
The comic Bob Newhart played a counselor in one of his popular television sitcoms. He subsequently filmed a skit in which a woman, who fears being buried alive in a box, comes to see him.
“I’m going to say two words to you, Katherine, and I want you to listen to them very carefully,” Newhart tells her. “Should I write them down?” she asks. “If it makes you comfortable, but most people can remember them,” Bob replies. He then proceeds to tell her the two words:
“Stop it!” he hollers.
Of course, stopping the selfishness and childish antics that far too many couples struggle with would have a profound impact on marital harmony. Immaturity is corrosive and destructive in any marriage.
But why are these couples struggling with these sins and faults in the first place? Yes, sin, but also because of family patterns and a whole host of other reasons that can sometimes take time, effort, energy, and emotion to unpack and fully understand. Stopping a bad behavior is a start – but knowing why you act and how to prevent and change for good is part of any healthy counseling exercise.
Focus on the Family has a wonderful team of counselors who offer free one-time consultations with anyone who might be struggling with a wide range of problems, especially a troubled marriage. We have an excellent Christian Counselors Network spread across the country that we can refer individuals and couples to after assessing the situation. These are licensed and credentialed professionals who love the Lord and have a heart for helping people through difficult times.
Focus on the Family’s Hope Restored marriage centers are also poised to help husbands and wives who are in crisis or even on the verge of divorce. Located in Branson, Missouri, Rome, Georgia, Greenville, Michigan, Wimberly, Texas, and soon-to-be-opened Cave Creek Arizona, we offer 3-5-day intensive counseling sessions that have transformed and saved thousands of marriages.
At this point, Matt Walsh is not one of our many licensed marriage counselors, but we send our hale and hearty congratulations to he and Alissa as they prepare to celebrate 15 years with their six great children.
