'Real Housewives' Stars -- Our Marriage Is Crumbling ... And We Need HELP

Former "Real Housewives of New York" stars Alex McCord and Simon Van Kempen claim they're on the verge of a nasty split -- so they've decided to hash out their issues on a VH1 reality show for troubled couples.

Sources close to the production of "Couples Therapy" tell TMZ, Alex and Simon will be starring on the upcoming season of the show -- alongside 17-year-old Courtney Stodden and her 52-year-old husband Doug Hutchison.

In addition to those two couples -- we're told R&B singer JoJo (From K-Ci & JoJo) will be appearing with his wife, as well as TheDirty.com blogger Nik Richie and his "Bachelor" star wife Shayne Lamas.

Rapper Too $hort will also be on the show with his 15-year on-again-off-again girlfriend Monica Payne.

As we reported, each couple will be getting "intense counseling" while on the show -- which began taping a few days ago.