How Jennifer Aniston and Jim Curtis’ romance began and why it took a 'long time'

Jim Curtis, a hypnotherapist and wellness expert, appeared on the Today show to promote 'The Book of Possibility' when host Craig Melvin slipped in a question fans have been dying to hear answered. How exactly did he and the 'Friends 'icon begin their romance?

“We were just introduced by friends,” Curtis said about his romance with Jennifer Aniston. “That’s it. We found out that we had mutual friends, and we started to just chat.”

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According to Curtis, that easy beginning didn’t immediately turn into romance. Instead, the connection unfolded slowly. “It took a long time, we chatted for a long time and we became close,” he explained.

Pressed on how long they’ve officially been together, Curtis stayed deliberately vague but revealing enough to confirm what many suspected. “A long time,” he said. “Months now, almost close to a year.”

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When Melvin joked that Curtis was starting to blush and offered to stop putting him on the spot, Curtis laughed and admitted, “Okay, yeah I sure am.”

Inside their low-profile romance:

Curtis and Aniston’s relationship first entered the public eye in July 2025, when the pair were photographed vacationing in Mallorca, Spain, alongside close friends Jason Bateman, his wife Amanda Anka, and Amy Schumer. Though the photos sparked immediate speculation, the couple remained private for months.

That changed in November 2025, when Aniston made the relationship Instagram official, posting a black-and-white photo with her arms wrapped around Curtis and writing, “Happy birthday my love," adding a heart emoji.

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Curtis shared his own affectionate posts at the time, adding, “If this is a dream I don’t want to wake up." Later that same month, Aniston attended ELLE’s 2025 Women in Hollywood Celebration with Curtis by her side, further cementing their status as a couple.

Why their relationship is 'different':

Earlier this month, a source spoke with People about Aniston’s mindset as she headed into the new year and how Curtis has changed her outlook.

“She had a great end to the year and feels really good about where things are with Jim,” the source said. “She's excited about this new year and what's ahead, especially with Jim by her side now.”

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The insider emphasized that Aniston has always been comfortable on her own, but that this relationship stands apart. “Jen's always been fine on her own and comfortable being single, but her relationship with Jim is just different.”

“She’s very happy and comfortable,” the source added. “He's just so sweet and supportive of her. He makes her everyday life better.”

Going strong in their relationship:

As of January 2026, Curtis and Aniston are approaching their one-year milestone and continuing to show up for each other publicly and privately. Earlier this month, Aniston supported Curtis at his book event, 'A Deep Reset for the New Year,' held at Godmother’s bookstore in Summerland, California.

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While Aniston has famously guarded her personal life following previous marriages to Brad Pitt and Justin Theroux, those close to her say she’s in a strong, grounded place, and Curtis fits seamlessly into that world.

Curtis, 50, is well known in wellness circles as a hypnotherapist, author, and transformational coach. His background includes work with WebMD and Everyday Health, and he has written multiple books focused on healing and mindset.

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That focus on growth and emotional grounding appears to resonate strongly with Aniston. In her November 2025 ELLE Women in Hollywood interview, she praised Curtis’s work and character, saying, “Hypnotism is one of the many things that he does."

"He’s quite extraordinary and helps many, many people. He’s very special, very normal, and very kind, and wants to help people heal, move through their trauma and stagnation into clarity. It’s a beautiful thing to commit your life to," she added.