There is no shame in seeking help from a marriage counselor or therapist if you have problems within your marriage. Couples criticizing one another, becoming defensive, or having conflict may require counseling before determining whether they can save their marriage. In Fort Worth, Texas, the divorce rate is pretty high and in many cases those divorces could have been prevented.
There is no set time to start marriage counseling. In fact, engaging in marriage counseling before getting married is one of the best things a couple can do. Often, couples do not go to counseling until the disagreements begin interfering with their lives and with their happiness together. To begin therapy, you both have to be on the same page. If one person does not want to go to therapy, you can go alone, but you may not see real change until both sides in the relationship are willing to put in the effort.
Therapy teaches you various coping mechanisms and conflict resolution methods. You may actually learn how to listen to one another, speak your mind without becoming combative, and empathize with one another better. The benefits of counseling include a stronger connection, fewer arguments, and a more peaceful relationship.
Therapy can also teach you when it is time to move on. Staying in a relationship where neither of you can thrive is not a healthy way to live. Counseling can teach you to notice when it is time to say your goodbyes. In this case, your last option is to seek advice from a good divorce attorney to help with the next steps.
Marriage therapy should never be a one-time event. While you may learn various tools by attending marriage counseling in the beginning, you should always follow up throughout the course of your relationship. You may find that it helps you avoid future conflicts.
Marriage counseling can repair some marriages, but for others, couples may learn that they do better apart than they do together. Marriage counseling cannot cure a bad marriage, but it can help. You may reap the benefits if both parties are willing to commit to the work. However, some relationships do not work out, regardless of the help they receive. There are many marriage therapists in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to help with those struggling marriages and perhaps they can even help reduce the divorce rate in that area.