Marriage counseling or couples therapy is the process of spouses working with a trained professional (usually a psychologist) to resolve problems in their relationship, with the goal of saving the relationship and marriage. Marriage counseling is generally not required before getting divorced, but in some states courts have the discretion to require couples seeking a divorce to engage in marriage counseling—although this is rare. And in some states the court may order the spouses to attend marriage counseling if one spouse requests it. But because a spouse is generally entitled to a divorce on no-fault grounds (without claiming or proving fault in the breakup of the marriage), marriage counseling is not usually a significant factor in the divorce process, and if one spouse wants a divorce, it will be granted.

In Mississippi, marriage counseling or couples therapy is a service that couples may voluntarily seek to address issues in their marriage. While it is not a mandatory requirement before filing for divorce, Mississippi courts do have the discretion to order couples to attend marriage counseling. This is particularly true in cases where one spouse requests it and the court deems it appropriate. However, since Mississippi allows for no-fault divorce, where neither spouse has to prove fault to obtain a divorce, the refusal to participate in marriage counseling will not typically prevent a divorce from being granted. If one spouse wants a divorce, they are generally entitled to it, and the court will proceed with the divorce process. It's important to note that while marriage counseling can be a helpful tool for some couples, it is not a significant factor in the legal proceedings of divorce in Mississippi.