Marriage Intensives & Online Counseling | Imago Therapy – The Marriage Restoration Project

How to be Happy in an Unhappy Marriage

I Love My Spouse, But I’m Not Happy Anymore—Now What?

Feeling disconnected from your spouse can be heartbreaking—especially when love still lingers. If you’ve found yourself thinking, “I love my spouse, but I’m not happy anymore,” you’re not alone. Many couples carry this quiet ache, wondering if real connection is still possible.

The good news? It is.

Unhappiness in a marriage doesn’t have to be the end of the story. With the right tools and intentional effort, it’s entirely possible to move from pain to healing—even if things feel strained or stuck right now. At The Marriage Restoration Project, we’ve helped thousands of couples do just that.

1. Acknowledge What’s Really Going On

Healing begins with honesty. Pushing your feelings aside or pretending everything’s fine only keeps the pain beneath the surface.

Take a moment to reflect:

  • What’s not working in our marriage?

  • What am I longing for?

  • What are we avoiding?

Pain in a relationship doesn’t mean it’s broken beyond repair. Often, it’s a sign that something important is asking to be seen, understood, and healed.

2. Recommit—Not to Perfection, but to the Process

Commitment doesn’t mean ignoring the hard stuff. It means staying present through it.

Research shows that a lack of commitment is the most common reason marriages end. But recommitting doesn’t mean pretending everything is okay. It means saying, “We’re in this together, even when it’s hard,” and creating the emotional safety needed to grow.

That kind of presence can become the turning point in your relationship.

3. Take Ownership of Your Part

It’s easy to point fingers when you’re unhappy. But lasting change begins when both partners ask themselves, “How have I contributed to where we are?”

Taking responsibility doesn’t mean taking the blame. It means being willing to examine your own role and how you show up. That shift from blame to curiosity creates space for healing, compassion, and new ways of relating.

4. Learn a New Way to Communicate

Most couples in conflict aren’t actually trying to hurt each other—they just don’t know how to talk in a way that leads to connection instead of more pain.

Intentional dialogue, one of the core tools we teach, helps you:

  • Mirror your partner’s words so they feel truly heard

  • Validate their perspective without having to agree

  • Empathize with their emotional experience

This process helps rewire the nervous system for safety and connection. It’s not just about saying the right things—it’s about feeling emotionally secure again.

5. Rebuild Your Shared Vision

It’s easy to drift into parallel lives when stress, parenting, or disconnection take over. But marriage thrives when there’s a shared sense of purpose.

We help couples rediscover the vision that brought them together: What do we believe in? What do we want to build? What kind of life do we want to create—together?

Whether your goals are emotional, spiritual, or practical, having a shared direction brings back the feeling of being on the same team.

6. Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late

If your marriage is hurting, don’t wait until you feel like strangers. Support works best when you seek it before things fall apart.

Whether you come to one of our Private 2-Day Marriage Counseling Retreats or begin our online 5-Step Guided Journey Back to Love, you’ll learn that what feels like a “marriage problem” is often a communication pattern that can be transformed.

The sooner you take action, the sooner relief begins.

7. Take Care of Yourself, Too

Marriage work isn’t just about fixing the relationship—it’s also about tending to your own emotional well-being.

You can’t show up fully for your partner if you’re depleted. Prioritizing your own growth, rest, and emotional health is one of the most loving things you can do—for yourself and for your relationship.


You Can Feel Close Again

Feeling unhappy in your marriage doesn’t mean the love is gone—it means something is asking to be restored.

We use a blend of neuroscience, Imago-based communication, spiritual insight, and practical tools to help couples feel emotionally safe and deeply connected again.

You don’t have to settle for survival. You can rebuild a relationship that feels secure, respectful, and fulfilling.

Ready to Take the First Step?

Explore our Private 2-Day Marriage Counseling Retreat or begin the 5 Step Guided Journey Back to Love online program.

Real change is possible—and it starts with one brave decision.

Picture of Shlomo & Rivka Slatkin

Shlomo & Rivka Slatkin

Rabbi Shlomo Slatkin is an Imago relationship therapist and certified (master level) Imago workshop presenter with over 20 years of experience hosting couples therapy retreats in-person and online.

Picture of Shlomo & Rivka Slatkin

Shlomo & Rivka Slatkin

Rabbi Shlomo Slatkin is an Imago relationship therapist and certified (master level) Imago workshop presenter with over 20 years of experience hosting couples therapy retreats in-person and online.

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