ohr chodesh -“Little you know: Interpersonal relationships is NOT a “mental health issue”. When you get into a fight with your friend, do you take him to a doctor (of mental health)? Same when you get into a fight with your spouse. You go to a talmid chochom with very much experience in Shalom Bayis issues. A therapist may also be recommended by said talmid chochom, if he deems so beneficial to the particulars of the situation. But even then one must be extremely cautious as towhich therapist one utilizes, as MANY are most capable of doing significantly more damage than good (partially as a result of their “training” based on secular lack of values towards the institution of marriage and partially as a result of their own inadequecies.)”
Your post makes sense, but I want to stress part of your post which you didn’t.
“You go to a talmid chochom with very much experience in Shalom Bayis issues.”
This is true, you can go to one. But what you fail to mention is that most Rabbonim are not like this. There are actually very few who have experience in Sholom Bayis. OTOH, even though there are incompetent therapists, by and far most will do good by their clients and try to steer them in the right direction!