According to research by Dr. John Gottman, who runs the “Love Lab” in Seattle, most couples wait an average of six years from the time they sense issues in their relationship before they seek help! Yikes! Who would wait that long before taking their car in to the shop?
By the time couples get to marriage counseling there are three basic scenarios:
1. Both people want to stay in the marriage and work through their issues.
2. One or both partners are not sure whether they want to stay together.
3. One person wants a “safe” place to tell their partner the marriage is over.
The question truly is not “if” you need couples therapy, but “when.” Life has a way of throwing you curveballs. If you’ve been practicing dealing with them together, you stand a much better chance of staying together, happily.
Good marriage counseling can be for working out deeply seated problems, to going in for a tune-up or “detailing,” or for anything in between. What are the top things couples struggle with? Sex, money and power.
Having an existing relationship with a marriage counselor is a good idea so you know who to call when you need one. For your sake, for your partner’s sake (and your kids if you have any), please take care of your marriage before its muffler is dragging.
There are some great books for marriage maintenance, too. You can see the list on my website: www.connect2.us.com