If you and your spouse are on the brink of divorce and you feel like you have tried everything to repair the relationship on your own, you may be wondering if attending couples therapy will even be worth it. Although marriage counseling is far from a quick fix, Statistic Brain reports that 75 percent of couples who attend therapy together believe they are better off as a result.
Several factors determine the effectiveness of couples counseling when it comes to resolving marital issues, and what works for one couple does not necessarily work for another.
If you have determined that your marriage is broken beyond repair and you want to file for divorce, an experienced family law attorney will ensure you file everything with the appropriate offices on time to prevent unnecessary costs and delays. If you would like to discuss your situation with a divorce lawyer in Miami, turn to Sandy B Becher PA. Call 305-860-5811 to schedule a consultation.
Let’s examine five scenarios in which couples therapy may not help repair a marriage:
- One Partner Is Disengaged
In order for marriage counseling to work, both spouses need to engage in the exercises that the counselor suggests. If one partner has already checked out of the marriage, no amount of counseling will repair it.
- One Partner Is Abusing the Other
If one partner is abusing or manipulating the other in some way, the victim may be unable to speak up during the sessions for fear of his or her safety. In such a scenario, individual counseling may help the mistreated spouse, but it will not be very effective until he or she finds the strength, courage, and support to exit the relationship.
- The Couple Does Not Utilize What They Have Learned
It is common for marriage counselors to give their clients “homework,” or simple exercises to complete after each session in order to improve their communication skills. If the couple does not complete these assignments, it is unlikely that their therapy will work, regardless of how engaged they may be during the actual sessions.
- One Partner Is Suffering from Mental Illness or Addiction
If one partner has a mental disorder and it is contributing to the marital problems, no amount of therapy will help until he or she seeks treatment for the condition.
- The Couple Does Not Like the Therapist
If the therapist lacks adequate credentials to treat couples or does not put both partners at ease, the sessions will be useless. In this scenario, the couple may still benefit from counseling, but they will have to find a different therapist.
If marriage counseling has made it clear that you and your spouse have irreconcilable differences and you want to pursue divorce, turn to Sandy B Becher PA. Call 305-860-5811 to schedule a consultation with a Miami family law attorney. You can learn more about divorce proceedings in Florida by visiting divorce.usattorneys.com/florida.