Though it might sound like something from the sublanguage of frothy celebrity culture, the expression conscious uncoupling is in fact the creation of a professional psychotherapist. It was popularized by Katherine Woodward Thomas, a US marriage therapist and author who posits a method of dealing with breakups in a positive way by focusing on the idea of ‘completing’ (rather than ending) a relationship and, through lessons learned along the way, being empowered to move on with life as a better person equipped to succeed in any further relationships.