Kerry Washington is giving people a rare and honest look inside one of the most intentional decisions she and her husband, Nnamdi Asomugha, have made together and it had absolutely nothing to do with a crisis.
The actress, 49, appeared on a recent episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast hosted by Alex Cooper, where she spoke candidly about her nearly 13-year marriage to Asomugha, 44, a former NFL player turned actor. When Cooper asked Washington what her partnership has taught her over the years, the conversation quickly turned to one of her favorite subjects: couples counseling.
Washington shared that she and Asomugha made the deliberate decision to begin therapy early in their relationship not because something had gone wrong between them, but because they wanted to build an unshakeable foundation before any cracks could ever form. She described it as a preventative measure, something they approached almost like a long-term investment in the health of their marriage and their life together.
A proactive, not reactive, approach to marriage
What sets their approach apart from the typical narrative around couples therapy is the timing. Rather than waiting for tension to quietly build or communication to slowly break down, the two chose to begin counseling from a place of genuine stability and love. Washington made clear that she is completely devoted to the practice today and looks forward to every single session with real enthusiasm.
She explained that each appointment begins the same way both partners share something meaningful that the other person did well during the week, a deliberate moment of appreciation before anything else is discussed. That ritual alone, she said, is what makes it feel like the best part of her entire week, something she genuinely treasures.
Learning to love each other better
The exercise has quietly become much more than just a warm-up routine. Washington described how the moments Asomugha highlights that he appreciated often catch her completely off guard small, seemingly ordinary gestures on her part that she barely registered but that turned out to carry real weight for him. That kind of honest, specific insight, she explained, is genuinely useful in everyday life. Once she understands what truly resonates with him, she can show up for him that way more consistently and more intentionally going forward.
That feedback loop is at the core of why Washington believes couples therapy has worked so well for them over the years. It is not about repairing what is broken it is about understanding each other on a deeper level and using that understanding to keep growing side by side. She said the process has taught them both how to love each other in ways that actually feel meaningful to the other person.
Beyond the therapy sessions themselves, Washington spoke warmly and generously about Asomugha as both a partner and a person. She credited him with helping shape who she has become, saying he has taught her how to be a better person in her daily life. She also described his partnership and the family they have built together as the greatest gift he has ever given her.
Their family and life together
Washington and Asomugha married in a private outdoor ceremony in Idaho in June 2013. The couple share two children: 1) Isabelle, 11, and 2) Caleb, 9. They are also parents to 3) a daughter from Asomugha’s previous relationship, making them a family of five.
Washington, best known for playing Olivia Pope on Scandal and most recently appearing in Knives Out: Wake Up Dead Man, has long built a reputation not just for a remarkable career but for her thoughtful and grounded approach to her personal life. Her willingness to speak openly about therapy and to frame it as something genuinely joyful rather than a measure of last resort brings a refreshing and encouraging voice to a broader conversation about marriage, communication, and mental wellness. For any couple quietly waiting until things get hard before seeking outside support, Washington’s experience makes a quietly compelling case for flipping that script entirely.
