Madonna is reportedly having counselling sessions to make her "less domineering".

The 50-year-old singer has been privately meeting Rabbi Philip Berg at New York's Kabbalah centre since her divorce from British film director Guy Ritchie.

A source told Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper: "Madonna has been having a tough time with Kabbalah in the wake of her and Guy's split.

"Whenever she's in New York, she's taken to having intense private sessions with Rabbi Berg, working on her tikkun. She feels that previous relationships have broken down because she always takes control, not allowing the other party to flourish and be themselves."

The tikkun - or tikkun olam - is a Hebrew term used in Kabbalah. It is usually translated as "repairing the world" and relates to a person's spiritual path through life.

The source added: "Madonna's been taught that if you keep experiencing the same relationship problems over and over again it's because you haven't realised where the real problem lies.

"As a result she is working desperately hard to try and change herself into someone who steps back. She is fighting her demons."

In a bid to show she is embracing the new philosophy, Madonna met with Guy at her New York apartment on Tuesday - one of the few times they have been together since their divorce was announced in October 2008.

(China Daily/Agencies January 16, 2009)