Chris Pratt reveals reason he and Katherine Schwarzenegger underwent premarital counseling


The Mercy actor has been married to the BDA Baby podcast host since 2019, and the couple have welcomed three children together


Katherine Schwarzenegger and Chris Pratt on the red carpet posing for photos attend the Los Angeles World Premiere of Marvel Studios' © Getty Images for Disney
Beatriz Colon
Beatriz ColonNew York Writer - New York
February 8, 2026
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Chris Pratt is getting candid about the work he put in to make his marriage work.

After finalizing his 2018 divorce from Anna Faris, the Guardians of the Galaxy actor started dating Katherine Schwarzenegger, after they were reportedly introduced by her mother Maria Shriver

The couple tied the knot in 2019, and since then have welcomed three children, daughters Lyla, five, and Eloise, three, and son Ford, one, who joined the Marvel star's son Jack, 12, who he shares with the The House Bunny actress.

Katherine Schwarzenegger with Chris Pratt at a premiere© Getty Images
Katherine and Kris married in 2019

Chris, recently speaking with his good friend Rob Lowe on his podcast on SiriusXM, Literally! With Rob Lowe, recalled how in addition to his and Katherine's wedding at San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California, they also had a ceremony at St. Monica's Church in Santa Monica, through which he and Katherine did premarital counseling.

"Part of getting married at St. Monica's church is doing premarital counseling," he explained, adding: "We did like, six sessions with this guy who was, by the way, the best thing in the world."

St. Monica Catholic Church is a Catholic parish in Santa Monica and Chris is likely referring to Pre-Cana, a mandatory Catholic marriage preparation program for engaged couples, named after the wedding at Cana where Jesus performed his first miracle.

Abby Champion, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Maria Shriver, Katherine Schwarzenegger and Chris Pratt attend the Los Angeles Premiere of HBO Original Series "The White Lotus" Season 3 at Paramount Theatre on February 10, 2025 in Los Angeles, California© Getty
The pair was reportedly introduced to each other by Maria

Chris further shared that among the topics of discussion the priest wanted them to agree on before marriage was when celebrations for Christmas start and stop. And among their list of "directives" they agreed to for their relationship, he said was: "One of them was that we were gonna play Christmas music on November 1, and that we were gonna take the Christmas tree down December 26."

"We talked about it beforehand, so now we're on board," he went on, adding how going through Pre-Cana helped them get any potential arguments out of the way. "It's like 300 potential landmines and [you can] diffuse them beforehand. And that way, if you have an issue, you talk about it and you hash it out."

"If you agree on it, you move on. But if there's things you disagree on, you hash it out and you do the work to figure out why are you coming from this [belief]?" he noted.

photo of chris pratt and katherine schwarzenegger smiling with all 4 kids who have white hearts covering their faces© Instagram
The Pratt-Schwarzenegger family in 2025

"This therapist who's basically diffusing a bomb, but in a way that's not gonna cause an argument or a fight. 'Cause a lot of this stuff can make you angry or upset or triggered or whatever. So I definitely recommend [it] for anybody," Chris maintained.

Photo shared by Katherine Schwarzenegger of her Thanksgiving 2025 festivities, featuring her son Ford© Instagram
Katherine and Chris' youngest turned one in November

Katherine has also been candid about the work she did prior to marrying Chris, which included seeking help from a step-parenting coach. "It's been incredibly helpful for me and also just understanding my role as a step-parent," she said during an appearance with her husband on the Parenting & You With Dr. Shefali podcast in July. 

"Step-parenting, like parenting, has no handbook. Because I have the benefit of being in both roles. Step-parenting is extra confusing because you aren’t a parent, you're not a nanny, you're not an assistant. You have responsibilities in all of those areas but you're not either of them," she added.

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