With a low 1% global divorce rate, India stands as the beacon for happy marriages. But is it really? 

Are marriages in India measured on how happy a couple is? 

Perhaps not. Marriage is often a compulsory societal requirement and there is much shame and stigma attached to divorce. 

So what happens when something goes wrong? How do couples cope with it? Continuously neglected issues build up tensions in a marriage. And sometimes, they get amplified to the point where they seek divorce. 

Marriage counseling can be a powerful support during these challenging times and with enough guidance, marriages need not stay unhappy. Research published in the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy shows that 70% of couples seeking therapy see positive changes in their relationship. 

Marriage counseling isn’t a subject that’s usually talked about. Especially in India where marriage is sacrosanct. So, how do you know that you’ve reached a point where you need counseling?

It’s when:

• Open and honest communication diminishes from your relationship 
• The same issues or conflicts keep resurfacing 
• You have lost physical and emotional intimacy 
• You feel unfulfilled in the relationship
• There’s no trust in the relationship. 
• You or your spouse is considering separation

A University of Miami Professor of psychology, Dr. Brian D Doss states that on average couples seek therapy after 6 years of being unhappy in a marriage. 

You don’t have to be that couple. Here are some of the top marriage counselors in India you can reach out to: 

Dr. Rekha Mehta 

“Communication is the lifeline of any relationship”

Dr. Rekha Mehta has a PhD in Psychology from the University of Birmingham and has 18 years of experience in marriage counseling. 

She believes in adopting an empathetic approach where she:

• Gets to know the couple
• Tries to understand the issues
• Gets comfortable with the couple 

Rekha believes the problems shared by the couple can be the same but not patterns and behaviors. Every individual is different and so are marriages. With time, the thinking of individuals in marriage changes. According to her, every 20 years, society experiences a drastic gap and this is the root of problems as many things change. 

Online or Offline: Both 

Her services include:  

• Relationship and live-in couple counseling.
• Child and adolescent counseling.
• Therapies and counseling for behavioral modification.

Contact:

Phone: +919999576668

Email: teamhealinghearts@gmail.com 

Website: www.delhimarriagecounselor.com  

Shivani Misri Sadhoo

“You cannot collaborate with somebody you cannot be friends with.” 

Shivani Misri Sadhoo holds a Masters in counseling psychology. Additionally, she is a trained level 3 Gottman method certified couples therapist with 13+ years of experience.

Her approach to counseling is rooted in her years of experience practising the Gottman Method. 

As part of this, she follows the Sound Relationship House theory. This includes,

• Love map building
• Looking at your partner and seeing a friend rather than an adversary
• Learning to manage conflicts
• Working together towards life goals
• Building trust

Online or Offline: Both 

She offers:

• Family counseling
• Individual therapy
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Emotionally Focused Therapy
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy 

Contact:

Phone: +91-8860875040

Email: saarthiforlife@gmail.com

Website: www.saarthicounsellingservices.com

Deepali Batra

Deepali believes in “Being non-judgemental, being neutral, completely unbiased.”

Deepali Batra is a senior Clinical Psychologist who has her own practice and also consults with Max Healthcare and BLK Super Specialty Hospitals. She holds an M.Phil in Medical and Social Psychology along with a degree in Clinical Psychology. She is registered with the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) and has 15 +years of experience. 

Deepali believes that the more comfortable a person feels, the more they are receptive to treatment. This eventually leads to a positive change in relationships. 

Online or Offline: Both 

She offers: 

• Cognitive therapy 
• Behavior therapy
• Relaxation therapy
• Stress management and counseling 

Contact:

Phone: +919818425297

Email: deepalipsychologist@gmail.com

Website: www.reviverelations.com

Dr. Pankaja

“To make a difference in people’s lives it’s important to set an inspiring example.”

Dr. Pankaja has an MPhil and PhD in Psychology and she has been a practicing counselor for 15+ years. 

Her counseling sessions are a mix of customized solutions and therapies for various age groups. You will also see that care for self goes hand in hand with care for others in her approach.

Online or Offline: Both 

She offers

• Personal counseling 
• Professional counseling 
• Teenage issues counseling 
• Behavioral therapies

Contact:

Phone: +919588392566

Email: info@mentalwellnesscentre.com 

Website: www.mentalwellnesscentre.com

Aekta Brahmbhatt  

“Give that space for the client to feel comfortable and relaxed enough to open up.” 

Aekta Brahmbhatt is a trained Play Therapist and has been a practicing counselor for 15+ years. 

Aekta has an empathetic approach and believes that her clients have an innate ability to heal themselves.

Online or Offline: Both 

She offers: 

• Individual counseling and personal therapy
• Career counseling
• DMIT testing
• Play therapy 

Contact : +919167114754, innergrowthhealing@gmail.com 

Website link: www.innergrowthcounseling.in

Why does marriage counseling matter? 

A study by the American Psychological Association (APA) shows that 75% of the time, marriage counseling works wonders for a marriage. To put this into perspective, here are a few reasons why marriage counseling works:

• Communication between couples improves – Improved communication leads to improved connection and understanding between couples creating a positive impact. 

• Couples develop conflict resolution (CR) skills – On developing skills to solve conflicts quicker, recurring issues are solved quickly too.  

• Emotional intimacy between couples improves – Emotionally intimate couples share empathy and thus their trust and vulnerability with each other also deepens. 

• Ability to identify negative patterns elevates – When one spots a negative pattern, they quickly implement positive behavioral changes helping mitigate fights and arguments.

• Problem-solving skills are enhanced – With better problem solving skills, couples collaborate better. And isn’t marriage a collaboration after all?

Choosing the right counselor   

If you are new to counseling, this guide below might help:

• It’s always better to check if the counselor has the appropriate licenses, training, and necessary experience. 
• Every counselor has a different therapeutic approach and it’s best to do your research and choose one that’s appropriate for you. 
• Do you have a connection with the counselor? Don’t feel it? It’s time to look for another counselor. 
• The accessibility and availability of the counselor is crucial. If you don’t feel you can access your counselor when needed it’s better to look for other options.

Note: These points apply for both the partners in a couple. If even one of you is uncomfortable, it’s time to change the approach or the counselor.

Manage crisis and heal together 

Marriage was never meant to be perfect. Like any other institution, marriage holds the potential to crumble. But with the right guidance and help, it has a greater potential to heal.