Aditi and Tushar completed couples therapy in Mumbai at Holistic Living Wellness Studio. 

I still remember the first session. She buried her face in her hands and said, “I am just exhausted”. 

..Why? What about this relationship makes you feel so tired? I asked her. 

Aditi looked at her partner, let out a deep sigh, and said it was the constant fights, disagreements and misunderstandings. 

High conflict relationships are often laden with heated arguments, discussions that escalate quickly, fights that turn ugly, and misunderstandings that take months to resolve (or simply forget). It is a constant power struggle, where each partner is focused more on their innate wants, demanding, pushing, and pushing their partner without realizing its impact. 

Such relationships have dire consequences. It not only poses a serious risk of divorce or separation, but exposes both partners to mental health issues.

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Fortunately, in most cases, conflict resolution is possible. Provided that partners are willing to work on their relationship, as well as their individual selves.

In this blog, we dive into the heart of high conflict relationships—the shouting matches, the silence, the emotional wounds that never seem to heal. 

If you feel like you’re living in a battlefield instead of a partnership, High Conflict Resolution Couples Therapy in Mumbai could be your lifeline. 

It offers a way out of the chaos—replacing blame with understanding, rage with reason, and distance with connection. 

Discover how this powerful form of couples therapy in Mumbai can pull you from the trenches and help you rebuild your relationship on the foundations of peace, trust, and true emotional intimacy.

Table of Content

Characteristics of High-Conflict Couple

Marriage is supposedly a divine union of two souls. It is believed to bring unconditional joy, support, and love in your life. But what happens when that fairytale feels like a nightmare?

For high conflict couples, relationships are equivalent to a battlefield. From heated arguments, unresolved resentment, emotional rollercoasters, and a deep sense of emotional disconnection, these couples are constantly at war – not just with each other, but with their inner selves as well. 

Recognizing these patterns is not the end. It’s the beginning of change. When couples become aware of these destructive traits, and actively participate in couples therapy in Mumbai, they can begin to let go, heal, and build something healthier.

Let’s explore some common characteristics of high conflict couples, and how couples therapy in Mumbai can help break them.

1. Locked Into Oppositional Stances

High conflict couples are often entangled in the You v/s Me dynamics. Every conversation feels like a power struggle, where each partner wants to assert their voice, without ever listening to the other. Furthermore, when one partner expresses their views, opinions or emotions, the other partner always mostly has a contradictory response.

For instance, Vidya and Jay sought couples therapy in Mumbai at Holistic Living Wellness Studio. Vidya felt emotionally neglected in the relationship.

“He has time for everything else, but never for me” 

While Jay’s standpoint was that Vidya’s constant criticism and complaints made him feel like a failure, forcing him to shut down.

“She is never happy no matter what I do”

They were stuck in an “us vs. them” mindset, unable to find common ground. Rather than working together, they were fighting to be heard—without truly listening.

 2. Frequently Angry with One Another

Anger is a highly common denominator in high conflict couples. The friction is intense and unpredictable, exploding on small things, and engaging in hyperbolic expression. 

As per research conducted by expert relationship counsellor in Mumbai, Mr. Sanjeev Mittal, couples in high conflicted relationships, often get addicted to this intensity. Somewhere, unknowingly, they crave for the extremities as it fulfills their subconscious need for drama. 

This need is often linked to childhood trauma, unhealthy family dynamics, certain personality traits, or negative past relationships. Therefore, a more methodical approach would be to encourage each partner to recognize their individual limitations and consciously work breaking these patterns and cultivating inner peace. 

Chaos inside leads to chaos outside”, says Mr. Sanjeev Mittal who believes in following a holistic approach when it comes to relationship counselling. A combination of joint and individual sessions brings integrative and lasting results. 

3. Poor Conflict-Resolution and Communication Skills

Neha and Rohan couldn’t discuss a single issue without it spiraling into a full-blown fight. What started as a discussion about finances would suddenly turn into accusations about loyalty, past mistakes, or family problems. Instead of resolving the problem at hand, they would often deviate, deflect or lash out. 

This is a classic example of high conflict couples. Lack of problem-solving skills, and ineffective communication keeps them stuck in the cycle of attack and defense – Like a football match with no clear goal. 

 4. Poor Impulse Control

For high conflict couples, emotions run high. Whether it is anger, shame, sadness, or guilt, they struggle to regulate them and often explode too quickly and too intensely. They may also jump to ultimate conclusions and decisions.

For instance, Priya and Ankit had broken up at least 12 times in the span of 6 months. Every time they had an argument, or a disagreement, their initial reaction would be to give up and run. Their poor impulse control and lack of stress management, created havoc in their relationship.

The relationship counsellor at Holistic Living Wellness Studio used EFT techniques and other therapeutic practices to help the couple develop emotional maturity, and move from reaction to response. 

 5. Tendency to Blame and Fault-Find

High conflict couples are quick to blame their partner, or pick on faults and past mistakes. A typical conversation between a high conflict couple would look like this:

“You never throw out the trash. I have to do it all the time”

“So what? You anyway don’t do anything the whole day”

“You are so bad at taking any sort of responsibility”

And it goes on and on. The blame games and ‘it’s you, not me!’ arguments never reach an end.

Instead of asking, “What’s really going on here?” they jump to, “It’s your fault.”

6. Rigid Beliefs About Each Other

Black and white, all or nothing, is often the mindset of high conflict couples. They have a tendency to hold on to the negatives, and forget the good, the growth, or the efforts made.

“I knew he could never change!” muttered Ankita. After an unfortunate incident of infidelity, Ankita had rightfully formed the fear that Arjun would never change, and was likely to repeat his actions. 

Even though Arjun made efforts to reassure her, Ankita stuck to her belief. Her consistent blame, doubts and criticism, made Arjun feel that he could never win her over no matter how hard he tried. Their relationship was frozen in an outdated, negative script.

This prevented the couple from moving forward, finding forgiveness and achieving reconciliation. 

 7. Little Insight Into Their Own Contribution

High conflict couples often struggle to see their role in the problems. They’re experts in pointing fingers, but rarely look in the mirror. This is perhaps the most damaging trait of all. Unless each partner understands their role in the relationship, how it impacts their partner, and consistently takes accountability when needed, the relationship will continue to suffer. 

“It took time, but I realized how my defensiveness was just my inner child feeling rejected and criticized. It had nothing to do with my life. This understanding helped me take ownership and be more responsible for my actions and responses” says Rohan.

That moment of insight became a turning point. Because real change starts when each partner owns their part in the dance of conflict. 

High Conflict Resolution Couple Therapy – Does it Work?

Can’t live with them, can’t live without them.

If that is your story, then one must question – Is this really what I want every single day? 

Just like everyone else, you too deserve a love that feels light, happy and easy. And so does your partner. So, if you truly want to stay, then you must make efforts to improve yourself as well as your relationship. Otherwise, your story will never change, and your children will inherit the same.

Now we know, you might have already tried to change, or made genuine efforts to restore your connection. But somehow you keep falling in the same patterns. Perhaps, you and your partner are never on the same page, or your demons are too strong to tame.

Don’t worry! With professional help it is possible to repair and revive your relationship. Many couples hesitate going for couples therapy, but it is often the best path toward reconciliation and rebuilding a healthy and happy relationship.

Let’s break down why and how couples therapy in Mumbai can help.

1. A Safe Space for Open Discussions

High-conflict relationships often lack a sense of safety. The volatile connection and unpredictable reactions can make it challenging to have open and healthy conversations. 

In couples therapy, a counsellor is trained to cultivate a safe space—one where you feel comfortable enough to share and discuss your personal matters, feelings, and even intimate thoughts.

Moreover, when conversations begin to get too vague or drift away from the core issue, they have the skills to gently bring the focus back to what truly matters in that moment. 

A relationship counsellor’s timely intervention creates the opportunity for fair and honest discussions which is often the very first step on this journey toward healing and reconnection.

2. Brings Awareness and Recognition

How can you solve a problem when you don’t even know one exists?

Take the example of Krishna and Nancy. Both came from completely different backgrounds. 

Krishna was raised in a joint family, where community and togetherness were always prioritized over individuality.

Nancy, on the other hand, grew up with an almost-absent father and a mother who struggled to make ends meet. From a very young age, she had learned to embrace solitude and self-reliance.

So, Krishna’s deep attachment to his family was often misunderstood—and even criticized—by Nancy.

Meanwhile, Krishna couldn’t understand why Nancy resisted his efforts to mend things with her father, leading to repeated arguments and hurtful taunts.

Both were reacting from their personal histories, lacking the empathy and emotional awareness to prioritize their relationship over their past wounds.

Couples therapy at Holistic Living Wellness Studio helped Krishna and Nancy uncover these hidden patterns, detach from past pain, and develop acceptance. They learned to give each other the freedom to live life on their own terms—without judgment, and with love.

3. Build Communication and Empathy 

Effective communication can solve 80% of relationship problems.

But here’s the twist—in high-conflict relationships, communication is often the first thing to break down.

This is exactly where couples therapy works its quiet magic—not overnight, but steadily and powerfully.

Through proven therapeutic tools and guided exercises, couples are taught how to truly listen—not just to reply, but to understand.

They learn to pause instead of react, to respond instead of attack, and to stay curious instead of becoming defensive.

Therapy helps partners tune into each other’s emotions, recognize unspoken pain, and gently explore each other’s triggers—not as threats, but as opportunities for deeper connection.

And as the walls come down…

So does the chaos.

In its place, something rare begins to grow—a connection that feels calm, safe, and deeply respectful.

Because when communication heals, the relationship can breathe again.

4. Address Personal Trauma and Traits

It is often the unresolved traumas, repressed wounds, and past negative experiences that shape how you connect, react, and relate with your partner. 

This is where couples therapy becomes both a mirror and a method.

Our unique Holistic Living Therapeutic approach offers a blend of psycho-spiritual practices and interventions such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Hypnosis, Inner Child Healing, etc.

Through this comprehensive approach, couples learn to:

•  Identify and understand the emotional imprints from their past
• Heal and Reconnect with the younger, wounded self.
• Restructure outdated beliefs, unhealthy traits and defenses

When couples start doing this inner work together, something incredible happens:
Blame turns into understanding.
Anger turns into compassion.
Triggers become teachers.

That’s when real transformation begins.

5. Learn De-escalation and Problem Solving
Every couple fights. But in high-conflict relationships, fights don’t just stay fights—they spiral. Fast.
One word becomes a war. Silence becomes punishment. And before you know it, the original issue is lost in a whirlwind of blame, defensiveness, and emotional shutdown.

That’s why learning to de-escalate is one of the cornerstones of couples therapy.
At Holistic Living Wellness Studio, therapists introduce techniques such as the STOP skill from DBT, grounding exercises, mindfulness practices, and conflict resolution frameworks to help partners interrupt their usual reaction cycle.

Instead of fueling the fire, they learn to pause, breathe, and reflect.
Instead of defending their stance, they learn to listen and problem-solve together.

They begin to ask: “What are we truly fighting about?” and “What does my partner really need in this moment?”

With time and practice, arguments no longer feel like emotional battlegrounds—but like opportunities to learn more about each other, repair the connection, and grow stronger together.

6. Cultivate Emotional Safety & Intimacy
It’s impossible to feel close to someone when you don’t feel safe around them.
Whether it’s the fear of being judged, blamed, ignored, or misunderstood—emotional safety is often missing in high-conflict relationships.

Couples therapy helps restore this sense of safety—gently, consistently, and intentionally.

Through guided sessions and vulnerability-building exercises, partners are encouraged to:

• Speak their truth without fear of consequences
• Express emotions without being invalidated
• Hold space for their partner’s pain without taking it personally

When this safe space becomes the norm, something beautiful unfolds: intimacy.

Not just physical, but emotional intimacy—the kind where you feel truly seen, deeply heard, and accepted for who you are.

This intimacy becomes the foundation of a secure relationship—one that thrives not on perfection, but on presence, patience, and love.

7. Shift from Power Struggles to Partnership
In a high-conflict relationship, it’s easy to fall into the trap of “Who’s right?” and “Who’s winning?”
But relationships aren’t competitions. They are collaborations.

Couples therapy helps partners break free from the exhausting tug-of-war of ego, control, and silent battles.

With expert guidance, they begin to shift the focus from “me vs. you” to “us vs. the problem.”
They stop keeping score and start working together.

At Holistic Living, we use tools from Systems Theory, EFT, and Narrative Therapy to help couples rewrite the story of their relationship—not as adversaries, but as allies.

When partners begin to support each other’s growth, celebrate each other’s wins, and walk hand in hand through challenges—true partnership is born.

It is in this space that love matures…
Not just as a feeling, but as a conscious choice, made every day—with trust, teamwork, and tenderness.

When Should I Leave

A high conflict relationship is challenging and tiresome. The constant fights, misunderstandings, and emotional intensity can leave you with doubts and a lurking question – Should I just leave? 

However, it is important to distinguish whether the relationship itself has turned ugly, or it’s the unhealed wounds, repressed feelings, and rigid mindset that has created this mess.

In this case, even when you leave, you are likely to attract a very similar relationship in the future. Therefore, it is important to work on your individual self. Heal your past wounds, let go of negativity, and embody the traits and habits of a well-rounded and healthy person.

The more you work on yourself, the more changes you will notice in your relationship, and your life. This can help you understand whether it is worth staying, or should you walk out of that door and never look back.

“When my partner refused to attend the sessions, I decided to continue with the therapy. I was tired. I could no longer continue living like this. It was the best decision I made. Because as I started healing, I could feel a major shift in our connection as well. I no longer needed him to make me feel good or happy. Even when he tried to provoke me, I learned to respond calmly. I realized that I have given my 100%, and automatically the relationship reached its end. I finally had the courage to leave and start my own life” says Lenny.

But that is not the sole outcome. Sometimes, working on yourself also opens the door for your partner’s healing and growth.

“Mr. Sanjeev Mittal encouraged me to take individual sessions. After some reluctance, I went ahead with them. Those sessions focused on inner child healing, rebuilding faith, and finding peace with reality. This somehow softened my partner too, as if a cover of divine protection engulfed us and a miracle unfolded. My healing proved to be a catalyst for my partner who then decided to take these sessions as well. Today, our bond is much stronger, happier and healthier” says Mahima.

Whether you decide to stay and work on the relationship, or leave, is completely up to you. Please remember that every relationship is unique. Hence, the best person to make this decision for you is YOU.

Final Word 

High-conflict couples often display certain recurring patterns—frequent arguments, emotional outbursts, stonewalling, blame games, and unresolved tension that never seems to end. At the core, these dynamics are usually driven by unhealed wounds, past trauma, poor communication, and a lack of emotional safety.

But here’s the truth: high-conflict does not mean the relationship is doomed.

In fact, it can be a powerful doorway to deeper healing and transformation.

When both partners are willing to understand their triggers, take accountability, and seek support, even the most turbulent relationships can evolve into thriving, respectful, and emotionally fulfilling partnerships.

At Holistic Living Wellness Studio, we believe that conflict is not the enemy—it’s a signal.
A signal pointing to unresolved pain that’s asking to be healed.
Our integrative approach combines the best of psychology and spiritual science to help couples move from blame to bonding, from breakdowns to breakthroughs.

Whether it’s through inner child healing, emotion-focused therapy, or guided communication practices, our expert counsellors hold space for both partners to reconnect—with themselves and each other.

So, if you find yourself stuck in a cycle of hurt and conflict, don’t give up.

Give your relationship the chance to heal.
Give love a new language.

Book your consultation session with Holistic Living Wellness Studio today, and begin your journey from chaos to connection.

Because every love story deserves a second chance—this time, a conscious one.

The post Couples Therapy in Mumbai for High Conflict Relationships first appeared on The Holistic Living.