Where Should We Begin? is a ‘game of stories’ created by author and relationships expert Esther Perel. It shares its name with Perel’s popular relationship-oriented podcast, which documents sessions of couple’s therapy, where the focus is often on listening and rethinking the stories at the center of their problems. The game, which aims to facilitate curiosity and connection, is made up of 'prompt' cards and 'story' cards, which when combined encourage participants – whether friends, family, or partners – to answer questions such as 'What is a lie you’re tempted to tell about yourself?', 'What is the last thing you faked?', and 'Who is your latest crush?' “The pandemic left us missing intimacy and play," says Perel. "So I created a game that helped us do both. The game is designed to help us connect and reconnect in a time of social atrophy."

The intensity and trauma of the pandemic has meant relationships of all kinds have faced new struggles – whether people were in need of connection or some personal space. But it also led many people to engage more honestly and openly with their emotional needs and reprioritize their relationships – one in six Americans started therapy for the first time in 2020 and 55% of people in the UK say that lockdown has inspired them to make more effort with their loved ones in the future, while TV shows like Couples Therapy grew in popularity. As people look for informal tools to help them pursue self-care and emotional growth, figures like @the.truth.doctor on TikTok and Esther Perel are revealing how brands can introduce therapy-based tools to a wider audience.