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 Ohio, marriage counseling or couples therapy is a voluntary process where spouses work with a trained therapist to address issues in their relationship. While Ohio law does not mandate marriage counseling before a divorce, courts may suggest or recommend it as a resource for couples. However, it is not typically a requirement for proceeding with a divorce. Ohio is a no-fault divorce state, meaning that a spouse can file for divorce without proving fault or wrongdoing by the other party. Therefore, even if one spouse is interested in marriage counseling, if the other spouse wants a divorce, the court is likely to grant it without requiring counseling. It's important to note that while courts in Ohio have the discretion to order counseling, this is not a common practice and it generally does not impede the divorce process.