Even the strongest of marriages can encounter a rough patch from time to time – possibly even one where things may begin to feel unsalvageable. Perhaps you’ve been hit by a major life event like the passing of a loved one, the loss of a job, or a significant medical diagnosis. It could even be that the relationship has suffered infidelity from one or both parties, and the task of rebuilding trust from such a place feels insurmountable. In such difficult times, the subject of couples therapy as a potential lifeboat for the relationship will often come to the fore when couples are trying to avoid divorce. However, unfortunately not all couples will choose to explore this avenue and benefit from its many advantages, the most important of which are outlined below.
When Divorce Can Be Avoided
Before reviewing the benefits of couples therapy, it’s important to first note why avoiding a divorce can be a preferrable option for some couples. One or both partners will often reconsider their decision to part ways when they begin to recognise the implications that divorce can actually have on their lives.
For a start, the financial repercussions of a divorce should never be underestimated. Any assets that either party may have (including one’s pension and any previously owned property prior to the marriage) may be considered to be part of the ‘marital pot’ once married. This means that either spouse may be able to make a claim for their ‘fair share’ of these assets during divorce proceedings, and so you could end up losing a certain percentage of your assets that have been built up prior to entering into the marriage.
Another potentially even more important matter to consider is the impact that a separation can have on your child or children’s well-being. Most of the time, a family’s living arrangements will obviously have to change following a divorce and the ensuring battle for who gets custody of the children can wreak havoc on their emotional and mental wellbeing. Even if things are handled delicately by both parents, it is always difficult for a child to process the reality of witnessing their family unit break apart or change, and so some couples will choose to avoid getting divorced for this reason. Of course, divorce is sometimes necessary when all other options have been exhausted. However, if you are looking to explore reconciliation within your marriage, couples therapy can be nothing short of transformational for the following reasons.
The Benefits of Couples Therapy
- Rekindling Closeness and Intimacy: Another profound benefit of exploring couples therapy is the potential for it to enable you to regain lost intimacy and passion within your marriage. Therapists are normally trained in psychotherapy and are able to treat any psychological blockages or dissonance that could be at the root of a breakdown in a relationship’s emotional and physical intimacy. They can help partners to reconnect with each other, fostering a renewed sense of closeness and revitalization within their relationship.
- Fostering Effective Communication Skills: It is a proven fact that honest and open communication forms the bedrock of any successful relationship, so when couples encounter difficulty in their marriage, it often stems from a breakdown in this area of their lives. The primary goal of couples therapy is to focus on improving each partner’s listening and speaking skills, thus ensuring that they both feel heard and understood. Working on those skills will inevitably have a positive, long-term effect on their relationship.
- Self-Awareness and Personal Growth: Beyond addressing the relationship’s issues, couples therapy can ultimately promote individual self-awareness through careful consideration of relational dynamics and the role that each partner plays in these. In couples therapy, partners can learn about their more problematic behaviours and their emotional triggers, shedding light on areas for personal growth. This form of self-discovery is invaluable, as it helps both partners contribute positively to the relationship and manage stress more effectively while also promoting self-actualisation.
Couples therapy can be a powerful tool for saving a marriage, provided of course that both partners are willing to engage fully and honestly in this endeavour. However, that sometimes isn’t the case and so the alternative of exploring a divorce or a separation become necessary. At Grayfords, our solicitors understand how sensitive a time this is in people’s lives, and their expertise in all areas of family law (including divorce, financial arrangements, and child custody) enables them to effectively support our clients in navigating such a process from start to finish. If you are seeking to get divorced or need help with another family matter, then don’t hesitate to book your free consultation today to find out more about how we can help.
