If you have searched for “couple counselling price”, you have probably noticed that many counselling websites don’t show one. This guide explains what decides the cost, what to ask before you pay, and where to find free or low-cost help. For real, current fees, see the provider cards on our couple counselling page, which update as counsellors change their prices, and our data page on what therapy costs in India.
The short answer
There is no fixed price for couple counselling in India. Each counsellor sets their own fee, and fees differ a lot between, say, a newly qualified counsellor working online and a senior specialist with a city clinic. What you actually pay depends on who you see, how long each session is, how often you meet and for how many weeks. On Mindara, the fee for a couple session is shown before you book, and you pay once per session, not once per person.
What affects the price of couple counselling
Training and qualifications
Couple counselling may be offered by counsellors, psychotherapists, counselling psychologists and clinical psychologists. Counsellors with extra training in couple or family therapy, or many years of practice, may charge more. A higher fee doesn’t guarantee a better fit for you, but you should be able to see what training you are paying for.
Session length
Couple sessions are often longer than one-to-one sessions, because two people need time to speak and be heard. On Mindara, couple sessions last 60, 75 or 90 minutes, and each counsellor sets a price for each length they offer. A longer session costs more each time, so ask your counsellor which length they recommend for you.
Online or in a clinic
In-person sessions carry the cost of a room, and travel costs you time and money too. Online sessions remove both, and let you choose a counsellor from anywhere in India rather than only from your own city.
Language and specialist experience
If you need a counsellor who speaks your language, understands your community, or has experience with something specific, such as an affair, an inter-faith marriage or sexual difficulties, your choice may be narrower. It is usually worth paying for the right fit rather than choosing on price alone.
How often you meet
The price of one session matters less than the total. Weekly sessions cost about twice as much per month as fortnightly ones. Many couples start weekly while things are tense, then space sessions out once new habits are in place.
Per session or a package?
Some clinics sell packages of several sessions at a discount. Packages can save money, but they also commit you before you know whether the counsellor suits you both. Before buying one, ask:
- What happens if we stop early? Is any unused amount refunded?
- Can we change counsellor within the package?
- Does the package expire?
- Are both partners included, or is each person charged separately?
On Mindara, couple sessions are paid one session at a time. Session packs and the student rate don’t apply to them, so you never pay in advance for sessions you might not use. The cancellation and refund rules are shown when you book.
Per person or per couple?
Ask this directly, because practices differ. On Mindara, one partner books and pays, then invites the other through the booking. You both join the same video room for that one fee, from the same place or from different cities. The invited partner doesn’t see the price or the invoice.
How many sessions should you budget for?
Nobody can tell you an exact number before they have met you, and you should be wary of anyone who does. As a rough guide, a couple working on one clear issue may need a few sessions. Rebuilding trust after an affair, or changing patterns that have built up over years, usually takes longer, often several months. Ask your counsellor to review progress with you every few sessions, so that you can decide together whether to continue, change the plan or stop.
Ways to make couple counselling more affordable
- Meet every two weeks once the first few sessions are done, and practise between sessions.
- Do the tasks between sessions. Small, regular practice helps each session go further.
- Prepare together. Agree on the one or two topics you most want to work on, so session time isn’t spent deciding.
- Check fit first. Mindara’s free first session is a one-to-one session, so it doesn’t cover a couple session. If you are eligible, one of you can use it with a participating counsellor to see whether they feel right before you book together.
- Ask your employer. Some workplaces offer counselling through an employee assistance programme (EAP). Read what an EAP can and can’t see.
- Ask your insurer. If you have health insurance, ask whether outpatient counselling is covered and what paperwork they need.
Free and low-cost options in India
- Tele-MANAS (14416 or 1-800-891-4416): the Government of India’s free mental health helpline, open at any time. It supports individuals rather than couples, but it can help either of you through a hard time and point you to local services.
- iCall (9152987821): a free counselling helpline, Monday to Saturday, 8am to 9pm.
- Women Helpline 181: a free, 24-hour government helpline for women facing violence or distress. It connects to One Stop Centres, which offer counselling, legal aid and medical help.
- Government hospitals: psychiatry and clinical psychology departments in government hospitals and medical colleges see patients at low cost, though waiting times can be long and couple sessions may not be offered everywhere.
Cheap or good: what to look for
A low fee is not a warning sign by itself, and a high fee is not proof of quality. These matter more:
- clear qualifications and training listed on the counsellor’s profile;
- a counsellor who explains how they work, and how they handle anything one of you shares privately;
- no promises such as “save your marriage in three sessions” or guaranteed results;
- no pressure to buy a large package on the first call;
- attention to safety, including asking whether either of you feels afraid at home.
If one partner is afraid of the other, joint sessions are not the right start, whatever the price. Book a one-to-one session instead, and call 112 in an emergency.
Questions to ask before you book
A short message or a first conversation can save you money later. Ask:
- What training do you have in working with couples?
- How long is each session, and what is the fee for that length?
- Is the fee for both of us together, or per person?
- How often do you suggest we meet at first, and when would we review progress?
- What is your cancellation policy?
- How do you handle something one of us tells you privately?
- Which languages can you work in?
Clear, comfortable answers are a good sign. On Mindara, much of this is shown on the provider’s profile, and the rest you can ask at the start of your first session.
What you get for the fee on Mindara
- One session for both of you, with each partner joining the same video room from their own device if you wish.
- Reminders and the joining link sent to both of you.
- A private chat with the counsellor for each partner, and a session summary you can both read.
- A fee shown up front, with no package to buy.
Where to go next
See current fees, and how a joint online session works, on our couple counselling page. If you are not married yet, read about premarital counselling. To know what to expect once you start, read what happens in couples therapy.