Former US First Lady Michelle Obama has revealed that she’s currently in therapy, which she says is helping her navigate what she believes is the “next phase” of her life.
She shared this during her appearance on The Jay Shetty Podcast, where she featured alongside her brother, Craig Robinson.
During recent interviews, Michelle Obama addressed persistent rumours about a possible split from her husband, former President Barack Obama, firmly dismissing them.
She opened up about life as an “empty nester” and shared that she’s currently in therapy as she approaches her 60s—a major life transition.
“At this phase of my life, I’m in therapy right now because I’m transitioning, you know? I’m 60 years old, I’ve finished a really hard thing in my life with my family intact, I’m an empty nester, my girls—you know, they’ve been launched,” she said.
Michelle explained that she now has “other voices” to talk to, including a new therapist who’s getting to know her as she works through this new stage.
No longer in public service, she reflected on how her decisions today are entirely her own: “I now don’t have the excuse of, ‘Well, my kids need this,’ or ‘My husband needs that,’ or ‘The country needs that.’”
She described therapy as a “tune-up” to help her unwind old habits, sort through lingering guilt, and focus more deeply on her relationship with her mother.
“I believe this is a whole new phase in life for me. And I now have the wisdom to know—let me go get some coaching while I’m doing it,” she added.
Michelle encouraged others to seek mental health support if needed, saying, “I am an advocate of it. Everybody needs to find their form of it, the best way they can.”
She also addressed speculation about her marriage during an earlier podcast with entrepreneur Steven Bartlett, saying light-heartedly, “If I were having problems with my husband, everybody would know about it.”
