Navigating Arranged Marriage Process

Navigating Arranged Marriage Process

A therapist-led support group for those navigating the arranged marriage search and feeling drained, family pressure, endless meetings, rejecting matches and facing rejections - while meeting others in the same boat to share challenges, gain insights from their journeys, and exchange coping strategies.

Use this quiz to assess how you well you are navigating the arranged marriage process.

Only 2 spots left! 

Starts 7th November, 2026

4 Zoom Sessions | Every Saturday at 12:00 PM IST | 75 minutes

Confidential | Small group, 6-8 people

Group Type: Support Group

Includes 3 Free Peer Calls*

Led by Therapist

Regular price Rs. 6,000.00
Regular price Sale price Rs. 6,000.00
Starts 7th Nov Booked out
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  • People seeking clarity about marriage and relationships

    • Gain clarity about your relationship needs, values, expectations, and non-negotiables.

  • People navigating family or societal pressure

    • Navigate pressure and expectations from family, society, and the marriage process while staying connected to your own voice.

  • People preparing to meet prospective partners

    • Build skills and confidence for meeting prospective partners, assessing compatibility, communicating openly, and setting boundaries.

  • People looking for support through the marriage journey

    • Find support and perspective by sharing experiences, processing the emotional ups and downs, and learning alongside others going through a similar journey.

1 of 4

Goals of the Group

"• Gain clarity about your relationship needs, values, expectations, and non-negotiables.
• Navigate pressure and expectations from family, society, and the marriage process while staying connected to your own voice.
• Build skills and confidence for meeting prospective partners, assessing compatibility, communicating openly, and setting boundaries.
• Find support and perspective by sharing experiences, processing the emotional ups and downs, and learning alongside others going through a similar journey."

40% % time
Sharing & Reflection
Spent on sharing personal experiences, reflecting & hearing from others.
30% % time
Psychoeducation / Therapist Input
Spent on key concepts, frameworks & examples.
30% % time
Skills / Exercises / Application
Spent on learning & practising specific coping tools/ strategies.
80 +
Past participants
Number of people who have attended this group in the past
15 +
Batches run
Number of batches of this support group completed till now.

Glimpse of the regime

Session 1: Setting the stage

Sharing & Reflection : • Introduction of the group & getting to know each other
• Reflecting on the stories we carry
• Sharing personal journeys in the arranged marriage process
• Understanding expectations from the group

Psychoeducation / Therapist Input :
• How very often the things/ thoughts/ feelings we carry are what we have absorbed from the environment around us.
• The importance of pausing and reflecting on what's happening in the process.

Skill / Exercise / Application : • Understanding how and while carrying what all are we showing up in the arranged marriage proceedings and how one would like to show up.
• Reflective discussion on role exploration.

Key Takeaway :
• Understanding your own and the other participants' experience in the arranged marriage space.
• A glimpse what the next few weeks will look like.

Session 2: Understanding the impact & expectations of the arranged marriage process

Sharing & Reflection : • Exploring internal & external impact
• Identifying our core values, and priorities
• Identifying our own expectations from a partner/ family
• Addressing the conflict between internal & external factors
• Collaborating with parents during the process

Psychoeducation / Therapist Input :
• Role of expectations.
• Role of value systems.
• Understanding how our external world is intertwined with who we are internally.
• How to address this conflict.
• Exploring possibility of boundaries with family.

Skill / Exercise / Application : • Reframing thoughts.
• Identifying influence of internal and external voices
• What are some ways in which boundaries can be drawn with family

Key Takeaway :
• It is possible to reframe thoughts and expectations with rationality.
• It is important to remember that our internal value systems and voice is intertwined with the external that can often be in conflict with each other. Boundaries & healthy ways to address this conflict is something to explore for each inidvidual.

Session 3: Evaluating Compatibility & Family Systems

Sharing & Reflection : • Evaluating a partner’s values, life goals, and aspirations.
• Navigating courtship period
• Understanding family systems

Psychoeducation / Therapist Input :
• Dependency and balance in relationships
• Understanding communication
• Strategies for navigating courtship period

Skill / Exercise / Application : • Reviewing current life circumstances and hopes
• Identifying negotiables and non-negotiables
• Learning how to communicate within family systems

Key Takeaway :
• Clarity regarding hopes and intentions from life partner and their family
• Learning how to approach conversations in this process

Session 4: Setting Boundaries & Moving Forward

Sharing & Reflection : • Communicating boundaries with society & family.
• Navigating pressure and differing expectations.
• Key learnings and personal takeaways for moving forward.

Psychoeducation / Therapist Input :
• Understanding boundaries and its types
• Coping mechanisms

Skill / Exercise / Application : • Circles of control
• Building a personalised toolkit to cope with the process

Key Takeaway :
• A better understanding of the arrnaged marriage process
• Importance of 'self' and other life areas in the journey of navigating this process

Meet your Facilitator

Shruti & Divya

● Years of Experience: Shruti: 4+ years | Divya: 13+ years (corporate) + multiple years as therapist
● Groups Facilitated at SoulUp: 3
● Relevant Expertise: Relationship Decision-Making, Arranged Marriage Process, Life Transitions, Emotional Regulation, Expressive Arts Therapy, REBT, DBT, Self-awareness & Identity Exploration

Shruti & Divya facilitate reflective and supportive spaces for adults navigating emotional and relational decisions. Shruti is a Counselling Psychologist and Play Therapy Practitioner with over four years of experience, working with adults through emotional challenges, life transitions, and identity-related concerns using REBT, narrative practices, and expressive arts. She brings a warm, reflective style and values group spaces for their ability to reduce isolation and support shared learning.

Divya is a Counselling Psychologist, Play Therapy Practitioner, and founder of Sunshine for the Soul. With 13 years of corporate experience and extensive work in mental health, she brings a grounded understanding of real-life pressures, expectations, and decision fatigue. Her work is informed by DBT, TA and REBT, and she has facilitated multiple support spaces and women’s circles. Together, they co-created The Playful Place, and in this group, they aim to create a safe, non-judgmental space to explore thoughts, emotions, and uncertainty around arranged marriage decisions with clarity and self-awareness.

Interested in multiple groups?

If you plan to join more than one group this year, this is the most cost-effective way to do it.

  • Unlimited Support Groups – Join any eligible group throughout the year at no extra cost.
  • Exclusive Weekly Series – Join our weekly Women/Men Unfiltered sessions on relationships, career, identity, and mental health.
  • 24 Free Peer Calls – Connect one-on-one with other members for support and shared experiences.
See details!  

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FAQs

What are SoulUp Groups?

At SoulUp, you'll meet people who get what you're going through and might be living some of the same realities. People looking for extraordinary conversations, just like you.

✔️ Small group, 6-8 people

✔️ Every meeting led by a world-class facilitator

✔️ Weekly 75-minute online video sessions

How is confidentiality maintained in Groups?

Confidentiality in Support Groups is maintained using secure meeting links and enabling waiting rooms to control participant access. Participants are bound by mutual confidentiality clause within the group. and sessions are not recorded without explicit consent.

Are Group sessions done on video?

Yes, all group sessions are conducted on video via Zoom.

While participants are allowed to use pseudonyms - they need to be on video to make the most of the session.

What is SoulUp's refund policy on Groups?

1. After you have registered for the group and you'd like to opt out:
- Full refund if you cancel 30 days before the group start date.
- 50% refund if you cancel 16-30 days before the group start date.
- No refund if you cancel 0-15 days before the group start date.

2. If SoulUp cancels a group, we will refund the entire signup fee.

3. If SoulUp reschedules a group by more than 2 weeks, we will inform you and give you an option to opt out and get a full refund.

4. SoulUp reserves the right to remove participants from a group if found unsuitable to the group. In such cases participants are given the option of claiming the pro-rata amount left as a refund or using it for another service on SoulUp.

Can I use multiple discounts while signing up for a group?

You can use only 1 type discount while signing up for a group. Cash backs cannot be coupled with discounts either.

* Are FREE Peer calls available to everyone who signs-up for this group?

You can book 3 Peer calls for FREE as part of signing up for this group.

Please note: This is only available to first-time participants of a SoulUp group (those trying a SoulUp group for the first time).

How long has SoulUp been around?

SoulUp was founded in 2022 by Punita Mittal and Mahak Maheshwari - a team of IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay with more than 20 years of combined healthcare experience. SoulUp is redefining mental health through groups that are not only effective but also fun, social, and challenging.

Everything Arranged Marriage - stories, advice, links, history and more

More about Support Groups & Therapy Groups:

1. What is an online therapy or support group?

Online therapy groups or support groups are structured, therapist-led sessions where participants gather virtually to discuss and work on specific mental health or personal growth topics.

These groups offer a supportive environment and help members learn coping strategies and relevant techniques from the therapist. Participants offer each other encouragement, share advice, and provide emotional support, helping one another feel less isolated.

2. What benefits can I expect from joining an online therapy group or support group?

Participants in online therapy groups often experience improved mental health, a greater sense of connection, and enhanced coping skills. Group therapy provides structured guidance from a therapist, which can lead to valuable insights and personal growth.

3. How does online group therapy compare to one-on-one therapy?

One-on-one therapy is personalized, focusing solely on your needs, which can be ideal for in-depth, private work with a therapist.

Online group therapy, however, offers a sense of community and shared experience. In addition to learning from the therapist, members get to connect with others facing similar challenges. Group settings provide diverse perspectives and reduce isolation, which participants find valuable.

4. Are online groups effective?

Yes, studies show that online groups can be as effective as in-person groups. The online format provides convenience and accessibility while offering the same structured therapeutic benefits, especially for those who prefer the comfort of their home environment.

5. Will I have to share my personal journey in the group?

Sharing is encouraged but never forced. Participants are free to share only what they feel comfortable with, and many find that opening up gradually is natural and helpful for their own growth.

6. How do online therapy groups or support groups handle difficult emotions that arise?

The therapist leading the group is trained to manage challenging emotions. They provide tools and strategies for coping, helping participants process feelings safely.

7. Can I attend online therapy groups if I’m already in individual therapy?

Yes, many people find that group therapy superbly complements individual therapy, providing additional insights and social support, thus accelerating their healing. Also, users often join group therapy for a topic that they are not focusing on in their individual therapy sessions. Often, therapists themselves recommend their clients to group therapy for a specific area of their life.

8. How do I know if a support group is right for me?

If you’re looking for shared experiences and emotional support rather than structured therapeutic guidance, a support group may be ideal. Otherwise, consider a therapy group for a more structured approach.

You can also join more than one group if you feel it will benefit you, especially if each group focuses on a different aspect of your mental health journey.