All relationships are different, but there is a very popular idea that your best friend should also be your partner. As a psychologist in India and a talk therapist based in Mumbai, who provides individual therapy, couple counselling Mumbai, family therapy in Mumbai, and more, I often encounter couples grappling with this question. Is it natural that romantic love should be transformed into a deep friendship? Or does this expectation bring on too much pressure?
From my experience helping people across India and globally—especially through premarital counseling, child counseling, and therapy for anxiety, OCD treatment in India, and PTSD—I want to shed light on this topic in an accessible and supportive way.
The Balancing Act Between Partner and Best Friend
The fact that your partner is your best friend is definitely an indication of a deep emotional connection. Research indicates that the couples who perceive one another as good friends experience more intimacy and companionship. But is it a must? Not necessarily.
Friendship means continuous work, and it needs trust, truthful conversation, common laughter, fidelity, and compassion. It is not like romantic love in which devotion is typically a blind acceptance irrespective of the flaws. Relationships are healthy when the partners value one another as friends and have other significant friendships that help them stay socially and emotionally healthy.
Three Key Points to Consider
1. Relationship Satisfaction Grows With Friendship, But Friendship Isn’t Everything
The fact that your partner is your best friend is definitely an indication of a deep emotional connection. Research indicates that the couples who perceive one another as good friends experience more intimacy and companionship. But is it a must? Not necessarily.
Friendship means continuous work, and it needs trust, truthful conversation, common laughter, fidelity, and compassion. It is not like romantic love in which devotion is typically a blind acceptance irrespective of the flaws. Relationships are healthy when the partners value one another as friends and have other significant friendships that help them stay socially and emotionally healthy.
2. Expecting One Person to Fulfill Every Need Can Backfire
Among the pitfalls is placing excess responsibility on your partner to satisfy every emotional, intellectual and social need. This may cause disappointment and frustration. Healthy relationships promote personal development and provide an opportunity to have a friendship outside of the partnership. During group therapy sessions in Mumbai and couple counselling, I promote the need to foster various relationships by clients in an effort to become resilient.
3. Friendships within Relationships Evolve Differently in Every Culture
In India, where family and social networks are elements of life, the dynamics may not be the same as the Western ideas of partnership. Friendship mixed with love is different in every culture. There are benefits of considering your spouse a best friend, and Australian research and others point to these benefits, but this does not negate that couples who are happy do not consider their spouse a best friend. This is why individual therapy (also teen therapy or family therapy) is important when dealing with unique relationships.
Conclusion
Then are your partner supposed to be best friends? My answer as a licensed psychologist in India is that it’s a beautiful ideal but not an absolute requirement for a healthy relationship. What is really important is respect, communication, support and shared commitment. With or without the best friend label, love may be rich and fulfilling. And establishing friendships beyond the relationship is an essential part of emotional wellness.
If you’re going through these questions or facing challenges like anxiety or trauma, just remember seeking help from experts in PTSD treatment centers in Mumbai, experienced marriage and family therapists in Mumbai, or those offering online psychologist consultation in India can be a transformative step.
About Me: Tanu Choksi
I am Tanu Choksi, a senior psychologist in India and talk therapist in Mumbai. My core specialties include individual therapy, child therapy, couples therapy, family therapy, teen therapy, group therapy, depression therapy, premarital counseling, anxiety, and PTSD. I have the honor of serving clients across the globe, and I come to every meeting with evidence-based practices and compassionate, caring care.
Connect with Me
- Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn: I post about mental health and relationships on my Instagram account: @tanuchoksi.
- Practo Profile: Ms. Tanu Choksi is a patient, non-judgmental and rational counselor and therapist in Mumbai, who strongly believes in patient solutions to personal problems.
The goal of this blog is to help people think about what makes relationships real and point out there is no universal solution. Whether your partner is your best friend or not, prioritizing mental health and seeking support through professionals such as experienced marriage and family therapists in Mumbai can enrich your relational life beyond measure.
