MAFS Couples Give Candid Relationship Updates in "Truth-Telling" Group Therapy Session
The newlyweds were in for an emotional rollercoaster during MAFS Season 20's first group therapy session.
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Key Takeaways
- The Season 20 couples participated in a “truth-telling” group therapy session focused on vulnerability, avoidance, fear, and communication, revealing very different stages of emotional connection across the marriages.
- Several couples reported meaningful progress through honest conversations and deeper intimacy, while others acknowledged struggles with self-sabotage, emotional walls, attachment differences, or presenting guarded versions of themselves.
- With Decision Day four weeks away, each couple revealed how they would currently evaluate their relationships.
The Married at First Sight Season 20 experiment is officially underway, and that means the couples are entering one of the most revealing phases of the journey as they all gathered for an eye-opening group therapy session.
After saying "I do" to complete strangers, honeymooning together in Mexico, settling into married life in Seattle, and navigating the highs and lows of living with someone they had never met before, the newlyweds are beginning to see just how different every marriage can be.
Up until now, each couple has largely been focused on building their own relationship behind closed doors. But during Episode 9, the Married at First Sight Season 20 cast came together for the very first time in a group therapy meeting led by the experts, who invited the group for a "truth-telling session." The congregation provides the opportunity to compare experiences, share struggles, and celebrate their victories.
RELATED: MAFS Experts Reveal the #1 Compatibility Factor for Couples Taking This Next Step
Unsurprisingly, some couples arrived feeling more confident than ever, while others confessed they're still trying to find solid footing as Decision Day inches closer.
The Married at First Sight Season 20 couples shared relationship updates during group therapy
At the top of the MAFS group therapy session in Episode 9, experts Paul C. Brunson and Dr. Lisa Paz spoke to the couples about being in states of avoidance, denial, and fear, revealing that they'd now "talk about it all" rather than continue bottling concerns up. The session provided a transparent glimpse at where every marriage stood, and it quickly became clear that no two couples are having the same experience.
The experts wasted no time addressing some of the more sensitive topics among the group. While chatting with Adam Dehmlow and Marissa Meyer, the experts called out Adam for being avoidant of vulnerability. Marissa similarly struggled to be vulnerable, but after opening up about her father during the group session, the couple made some progress.
“I mean, I wouldn’t say I'm deflecting," Adam shared in group therapy. "This is just like who I am. Like, I'm kind of just like a silly guy with like, a sense of humor, and I feel like at the start I was not my true self, I was like more serious than I really am, so I feel like my true colors have kind of come out.”
Newlyweds Michelle Le and Cameron Mitchell chatted about their deep connection and the blessings of the experiment, revealing they've grown more physically intimate since the last time they caught up with the couples.
"This has just exceeded all expectations," Michelle reported.
"Yeah, it's really been pretty incredible like how quickly our connection has formed and how deep we've been able to go," Cameron told the experts. "She's cried around me, we're having some conversations that normally you wouldn't have for probably like six months to a year, but you know. It's a little uncomfortable sometimes but like afterwards, I feel like — even if it's not a resolved issue — it's like we still become stronger and I just love spending time with her."
Meanwhile, Nick Uhlenhuth and Courteney Landis opened up about their spark growing over time and Nick’s fear of letting his guard down and instead presenting a polished, self-edited persona. Courteney explained this dynamic fostered a platonic connection, so the experts encouraged them to show up for each other more.
"I don't know, sometimes I'm afraid of being judged for being like my awkward, goofy side," Nick confessed. "Like I feel like sometimes, I need to be more polished than that, and so I'm more reserved in that respect."
Felipe Cruz and Tori Dahl discussed their passion, but Felipe confessed he's been searching for issues and self-sabotaging. Tori admitted she didn’t expect the avoidance, but also tends to be non-confrontational, leading to some tension.
“For the past four years, I’d go through this passion, and then, like once it plateaus, I either ghost or become avoidant or distance myself, and I just move on to the next thing, next dopamine," Felipe admitted. Tori confessed it was scary to hear, but told the experts that she “understood” Felipe’s concerns because she is an avoidant person. The experts encouraged them to throw away the idea of passion and instead focus on curiosity.
Mecca Amen and BelléJolie Force chatted about the increase in desire in their connection. Mecca was emotional while opening up about not feeling like he can accept love from others, creating some distance in his marriage despite their friendly bond.
“It’s a mental barrier I need to overcome,” Mecca said.
“I could feel it, I can feel people,” Belle told the experts. “I can feel that he was kind of being hard-bodied. I had a very, very traumatic upbringing, and that can kind of trigger maybe anxiety or panic attacks and stuff, and that's not fun to talk about. But that might trickle into a relationship sometimes. I may shut down. That's why I think I understand you so much, and I want him to know I'm here regardless.”
“And you are way beyond deserving a love,” Belle sweetly added. “Like, to the utmost. And if nobody else is gonna show you, I will. I'm gonna just leave it at that.”
Shawn Best and Nikki Jefferson began their experiment with a rough start, but during therapy, they revealed that they’ve grown closer throughout the experiment, citing their rocky beginning as a hidden blessing due to it bringing up big conversations early. Shawn commended Nikki for fostering respect within their connection, saying that they've improved considerably. That said, the rest of the couples remained dubious about their chemistry.
“The more we’ve talked about things, we realized we have a lot of commonalities,” Nikki reported happily. “Like the last two days, the air has been clear, things have been lighter. I can see if this progresses a scenario where I could grow in my physical attraction to him.”
“We took a different route than most people. We started out intense, and then we are now light,” Shawn added while chatting about their recent 180.
RELATED: All About Married at First Sight Season 20's Honeymoons & the Dreamy Destination
Lastly, Devin Short and Caitlin Grimm spoke about Caitlin wanting Devin to be himself, fearing that her expectations and difference in attachment style has dimmed his sparkle.
“I came into this like with the expectation that we're just gonna dive right in,” Devin said. “And everything's gonna be great, and I'm gonna love bomb her, and she's gonna love it. And doing that pushed her away. So I'd like to kind of take a step back. And if that means having a fader and dimming it down a little bit to make sure that she's receiving what she needs right now, I think that's what matters.”
“That's interesting because many people would debate that that's not how love works,” Brunson said, encouraging Devin to avoid compromising for the sake of commitment.
When asked what their choice would be if Decision Day was that day, each couple revealed their verdict, with the majority of the couples revealing they are still undecided as they explore their new relationships. Here's what each couple said on where they stand four weeks away from Decision Day in Episode 9 of MAFS Season 20:
Michelle and Cameron:Yes
BelléJolie and Mecca: Undecided
Caitlin and Devin: Undecided
Marissa and Adam: Yes
Nikki and Shawn: Undecided
Courteney and Nick: Undecided
Tori and Felipe: Yes
Keep up with all of these new couples by watching new episodes of Married at First Sight Season 20 weekly on Thursdays this summer, only on Peacock.
