Explore how modern-day relationship challenges make counselling a smart choice for reconnecting and healing.
Shraddha Walker was allegedly murdered by her live-in partner, Aaftab Amin Poonawala. In another case, Muskan Rastogi is accused of murdering her husband, Saurabh Rajput (a love marriage), with the help of her lover, Sahil Shukla. And most recently, Sonam Raghuvansi is suspected of killing her newly wed husband, Raja Raghuvansi (an arranged marriage), alongside her lover.
These cases share a disturbing element: one person chose to end their partner’s life instead of communicating their feelings. Their mindset, prioritising murder over discussion as a problem-solving method, is deeply troubling.
Dr Chandni Tugnait, MD (A.M.), Psychotherapist, Life Alchemist, Coach, and Healer, Founder and Director, Gateway of Healing, discusses how India’s digital advancement and rural-to-urban migration are rapidly changing relationships. The digital world’s dating sites and social apps, which showcase ideal relationships, can cause comparison, erode trust, and create distance between partners.
This is where we stress the importance of relationship counselling and why it is the need of the hour. A National Library of Medicine paper states that current couple therapy and marriage counselling effectively reduce relationship distress. With our expert onboard, we will help you navigate the complex path of relationships.
Importance of a Counselling Session
Relationship counselling is such an important part, and not something you can treat as optional. According to one study on ResearchGate, professionals have helped people after infidelity and work to build trust among couples.
Dr Chandni Tugnait states that counselling offers emotional clarity and improves couple communication through active listening and “I” statements. Counsellors help identify external stressors like work, family, or social media, as well as past trauma, and provide conflict resolution strategies, shared goal setting, and accountability.
How Counselling Changes the Dynamic of Your Relationship
Before seeking relationship counselling, people often wonder about its benefits and impact on their relationship. These are some ways it can be helpful.
- Addressing the Elephant in the Room – Both partners are aware of the problems, but they hide behind the blame game. With a counsellor, you get space to speak freely and say all that has been weighing you and your relationship down.
- Stress and Anger Management – You get a way to channel all your anger, frustration, and stress of the relationship in the right direction. They provide you with the space to talk with each other and not walk away in mid-conversation, leading to mostly resolving the issue, which can be difficult on its own.
- Stability and Growth – while these two are contradictory, but are complementary goals. Stability is needed in any relationship, and so is growth. One cannot stand for too long in a way, and hence it helps you to understand what both people need and desire, what these terms mean for both, and how you can work together to reach a mutual understanding phase.
- Boost of Self-Esteem – We have often seen power conflict between couples, especially when both are working professionals. This could also lead to bitterness between couples. Professionals can help you navigate through this and help you understand that you are not against each other in this race rather together.
- Re-Spark the Lost Charm – The most important thing that couples miss among them is the spark that they had earlier in their relationship. With time and professional responsibilities, it gets tough to balance relationships. In such cases when couples feel they don’t have love left, an expert helps you reignite the spark and find that lost love hiding under.
According to Psychology Today, 70% to 90% of couples going through counselling have had positive outcomes with long-term benefits. Dr Chandni Tugnait highlights how counselling aids individuals through narrative reframing, embodied awareness with exercise, and curiosity-driven therapy. This process helps identify relationship strengths and foster a personal ecosystem for well-being.
Signs That Your Relationship Is Struggling
Relationship betrayal has become very common in India and is slowly gaining momentum, or you can say, popularity. According to the survey by Gleeden(an extramarital dating app), about 55% of married Indian people have been unfaithful to their partners at least once. People are amazed and equally scared of betrayal of trust happening between the partners. Partners, be it in a relationship, a live-in relationship, or a married relationship. All you hear is how one has betrayed the other, and you wonder what went wrong between them. Weren’t they in love? Then what led to this? Does love fade away after some time together?
Here Are Some Signs to Look Out For, According to Dr Chandni Tugnait:
- Emotional Triangulation – Situations where a partner consistently introduces a third party into their disputes.
- Privacy Erosion – Frequent demands by a partner to share device passwords in the name of trust.
- Sabotaging Boundaries – Getting some “me time” might mean having a chat or argument with your partner.
- Digital Gaslighting – This new manipulation tactic involves denying or rewriting interactions (“You’re remembering it wrong”) and uses technology to twist one’s perception of reality.
- Inconsistent Empathy – They switch between being super affectionate and then really aloof, and it’s been going on for quite a while now.
- Fading of Identity – When your partner constantly criticises your life decisions and attempts to mould you to fit their lifestyle.
- Love Bombing – It’s pretty messed up when someone showers you with attention and then just ghosts you, right? That breadcrumbing thing? It’s like they’re trying to keep you hooked while messing with your head—total emotional manipulation.
Conclusion
“When someone you trust in your family betrays you, it shakes the very foundation of trust and safety for everyone. Often, family members start to doubt everything. The shock leaves a lasting mark,” says Dr Chandni Tuganit, on how families are affected by relationship betrayal. Honest communication is key for families to heal from trauma by rebuilding trust and confidence.
It is essential to recognise that relationships today are not like those of older generations; rather, people need to adapt over time and change according to the evolving dynamics of the relationship. This helps them create a healthy and long-lasting relationship. For expert help navigating relationship challenges, seek guidance today.
Disclaimer: This article provides information from an expert and is intended for general knowledge only. If you are experiencing relationship issues, it is crucial to seek advice from a qualified professional to ensure appropriate care.
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