Married relationships can suffer from a variety of trouble such as infidelity, emotional neglect, lack of intimacy, and boredom. The decision to end a marriage is often fraught with guilt and confusion. What most people don’t know is that the decision to end a marriage or rebuild it can actually be resolved out of the marriage counseling process.
Marriage counseling can be a very difficult and painful process. The same is true for divorce. So deciding to seek marriage counseling is a major decision for the couple to make. Sometimes, only one spouse is willing to go through counseling. But can marriage counseling really work if only one partner is willing to engage the process?
The first issue a married couple may face is whether both are in agreement to engage in the marriage counseling process. There are therapists that will focus on the individual if only one of the partners is willing to seek counseling. However, this is not the ideal dynamic to reach reconciliation. Both partners must be committed to the relationship. While most trained therapists will perform therapy with just one partner, most believe therapy is most effective when the sum total of the partnership is present and engaged. If this is not possible, it is advisable to first acknowledge and accept your feelings. The second is to keep communication open with your spouse, your children, and your family.
In marriage counseling there are no set rules. However most therapists will never take sides. The goal of the therapist is to understand both partners and to help them develop effective ways to communicate with each other. Every couple has redeeming qualities. Many times it is up to the therapist to help them rediscover those qualities and strengths. Often it is these qualities and strengths upon which a new foundation of communication can be built. Finally, helping couples learn how to listen to each other and to seek realistic solutions to their conflicts is a central responsibility of family and marital counseling.
Many therapists can treat a wide range of marital and family problems. This can involve the whole family. Most therapists regularly practice short-term therapy. This means that nearly half of their cases are completed within 20 sessions.
To learn more about spousal support, divorce law and property division visit
GotTrouble.com