India, July 15 -- A couple seated across from me in the therapy room recently told me that while they love each other deeply, there are times they cannot stand one another. Not new to therapy, they chose to be brutally honest about their situation in the hope they could experience some movement in the relationship.

After 25 years of marriage, they find themselves fighting more than ever. The love is present, but they are not sure if that's enough. The wife holds her husband's hand and tells me, "There are more doubts than ever about whether we can make this work - both of us have mixed feelings for each other and yet we don't know what to do."

Relational ambivalence often makes it to therapy sessions - it shows up as mixed feelings expe...