Can a few therapy sessions or an online course save your relationship? helsinki study aims to find out
NCT ID NCT07604740
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether different types of relationship support—like online self-help, an online course, or face-to-face therapy—can improve relationship satisfaction and well-being for couples. About 400 couples from Helsinki will be randomly assigned to one of four programs or a waitlist. They will fill out questionnaires before, after, and 4 months later to see what works best.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- couple therapy and relationship support programs (online self-help, online course, face-to-face therapy)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could show that short, accessible interventions like online courses or a few therapy sessions effectively improve relationship satisfaction and reduce distress for couples.
- What could go wrong
- This is a relatively small, early-stage study with no blinding, so results may not generalize widely. The interventions are brief and may not work for all couples or severe issues.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 400 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Nov 2025
- Expected to finish
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Jun 2029
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Parents (couple) and blended families, and at least one of the parents is resident of Helsinki * Couples expecting their first child. The couple is experiencing one or more of the following (1) severe relationship conflict, (2) a serious threat of separation, (3) significant challenges in forming a family or navigating a blended family relationship. * couples eligible for treatment at the couple counselling faculty of Helsinki Exclusion Criteria: * Inadequate Finnish written language skills (the questionnaires are only available in Finnish) * if both spouses do not complete the baseline questionnaires within the given deadline.
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Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
The full official record for this study. This one lists no contact details, but it is the first place any would appear.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Relationship Counselling
Helsinki, Finland
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