Mariage counseling

Marriage counseling is a difficult proposition in Mumbai as many men feel it’s a sign of weakness meeting with a counselor. Others feel that issues need to be resolved with the guidance of elders. This is a consequence of a patriarchy and genetic differences in the relational patterns of men and women. In an Indian context men friendly approaches that take these power dynamics into account are more useful, these approaches include Narrative therapy and Solution focused therapy.

In some cases more traditional approaches like the Gottman method or the Emotionally Focused (EFT) approach of Sue Johnson work well. We use these techniques in our marriage enrichment groups to help people enhance the quality of their marriage.

In many cases it is possible to resolve problems by helping the more motivated partner to change. If the behavior of one partner changes the behavior of the other also changes as a consequence but this takes time. This is especially useful if domestic violence or alcoholism is an issue. The techniques are derived from single person family therapy.