This is a highly personal question and one that individual people will respond to differently. Some marriage counsellors will be willing to see just one person in a couple to begin with, so don't necessarily be put off seeking help if your partner is not – or not yet – willing to take part. It is usually better to act if you think something is wrong in your relationship but can't quite put your finger on it. If you want to save your marriage following a loss - for example, after a bereavement – then couples counselling can be beneficial. Equally, it can often succeed in putting a relationship back on track following an affair.