Counseling Questions and Answers

Family and friends care about you, but they often take sides or have their own expectations. A counselor is trained, neutral and does not judge. What you share stays private, so you can say things you may never have said to anyone.

If the same problems keep coming back, if you feel stuck or alone with something, or if it is affecting your sleep, work or health, it is worth talking to someone. You do not need to wait for a crisis. When it comes to relationships, the earlier, the better.

Couples at any stage usually start with relationship counseling; married couples with marriage counseling; newly married couples with post marital counseling; couples preparing for marriage with premarital counseling. There is also family counseling, parenting and child counselling, divorce counselling for anyone facing separation, and one-to-one self counseling. Not sure? Tell us what is happening and we will suggest the right counselor.

It helps many people, especially when both partners are willing to listen and make changes. Our clients report an 87.3% success rate. No honest counselor can promise a result, though. Sometimes the outcome is a stronger relationship, and sometimes it is a calm, clear decision about the way forward.

No. Many people come before things become serious, for example before marriage or in the first years of it. Prevention is better than cure.

Send a short request on our appointment page, call +91 98790 14220, or message us on WhatsApp. Someone from Sambandhah will call you to understand your concern and book a time.

We are available every day from 9 am to 9 pm, including Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Sessions are by appointment, so please call or send a request first and we will fix a time that suits you.

No. All sessions are by appointment, so that a counselor has time set aside only for you.

Counseling at Sambandhah is not free. It costs ₹2,500 per hour, whether you meet us at our centre, online or by phone. We explain everything on the call before you book.

There is no fixed length. It depends on your situation and what you want to work on, so your counselor will discuss it with you. Since the fee is charged per hour (₹2,500), you always know what a session will cost.

It depends on what you want to work on. Some people need only a few sessions, others prefer to continue for longer. Your counselor will suggest a plan after the first session, and you decide how to continue.

Your counselor listens first. You talk about what is happening, at your own pace, and share only what you are ready to share. Together you agree on what you would like to change, and how the next sessions could help.

Yes. Tell us in the form or on the call, and we will do our best to arrange it. You can meet our counselors on the counselors page.

Sessions are available in Gujarati, Hindi, English and Telugu (Telugu sessions are with Ms. Srilatha). Tell us your preferred language when we call, and we will match you with a counselor who speaks it.

We are at Anushri Accolade - II, 713, Science City Rd, opp. Shell Petrol Pump, near Science City, Sola, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380060. Find us on Google.

Husband and wife meet a counselor together, and sometimes one at a time. The counselor helps each of you be heard, understand what is going wrong, and work on communication, trust and the decisions in front of you.

You can start on your own. Invite your partner calmly and present it as something for both of you, not as a way to prove who is right. Many partners join later, once they see that counseling is not about blame.

It can. Rebuilding trust takes time and honesty from both partners, and a counselor helps you talk about what happened without every conversation turning into a fight. Read a real story from our case studies.

Yes. Many couples find it hard to raise problems with physical intimacy, such as different levels of desire or avoiding closeness. Your counselor will talk about it respectfully, in confidence and at your pace. If there could be a medical reason, we will suggest you also see a doctor. See marriage counseling.

Yes. Counseling helps you see the situation clearly. Whether you decide to work on the marriage or to separate, you can make that decision calmly and with respect, especially when children are involved. Read more about divorce counselling.

Talk to each other openly, and avoid carrying negative comments from one side to the other. Respect both families, and keep some private matters between the two of you.

Privacy is keeping something to yourself; secrecy is hiding something from your partner. A little privacy is healthy in a marriage, but secrecy slowly destroys trust.

Premarital (or pre marriage) counseling is a set of conversations with a counselor before the wedding, to understand each other’s values and expectations. A few months before the wedding is ideal, but even a few weeks helps. Read our guide: what is pre-marriage counseling?

Family and in-laws, careers, money, children, faith and traditions, daily habits, how each of you handles disagreements, and anything important from the past. Our article on the courtship period has a simple checklist.

Yes. When you have met only a few times, it gives you a safe space to talk openly about the things that matter. It is just as useful for love marriages.

A wedding is a ceremony that lasts a day or two; a marriage is a whole life spent together. Many couples spend months planning the wedding and very little time preparing for the marriage.

Family counseling helps family members understand each other and resolve conflict. Anyone can attend: parents, children, couples, grandparents, in-laws or siblings. Your counselor will suggest who should join which session.

Yes. Parent and teenager conflict is one of the most common reasons families come to us. The counselor listens to both sides and helps each understand the other. Read more about parenting and child counselling.

Yes. Children and teenagers can talk to a counselor in a safe, friendly setting, on their own or with their parents. We also guide parents on behaviour, studies, screens and co-parenting. Tell us your child’s age when we call. Read more about parenting and child counselling.

Counseling can help many people manage stress, anxiety and low mood. For moderate or severe depression it works best alongside a doctor or psychiatrist. We are counselors, not doctors, and will tell you honestly if we feel you need medical support.

If you or someone close to you is thinking about self-harm, please do not wait for an appointment. Call 112, go to the nearest hospital, or call Tele-MANAS, the free 24×7 helpline, on 14416.

Yes. What you share stays with your counselor, and your details are never shared with anyone.

Yes. You can talk to a counselor by private video call or by phone, from anywhere in India or abroad. Read more about online counseling.

Yes. Partners can join a video session from two different places.

Yes. Many people prefer phone sessions. Choose “By phone” in the form, or tell us when we call.

Yes. We work with NRIs and Indian families living in other countries, who attend online by private video call or phone. Sessions are available every day from 9 am to 9 pm India time (IST), and we will help you find a time that suits your time zone. Read more about online counseling.