If you’re married to an addict, you suffer directly and by watching your spouse deteriorate. Addicts lie, are reckless, and they cheat. Moreover, you’re partly responsible for the damage they do. If your alcoholic spouse drives, you worry when he’s out, you bail him out of jail at 2 a.m., and help pay the fines and attorney’s fees. Addiction is a huge challenge and couples are more likely to divorce when facing drug or alcohol issues. Addiction Statistics There are approximately fourteen … [Read more...]
Does Couples Counseling Work?
Successful couples counseling depends on several factors: both parties must be willing to change, marital problems can’t be impossible, goals need to be realistic, your therapist must be effective, you can’t wait until it’s too late and both spouses must want the marriage to work. Are You Willing to Change? If your partner refuses to attend couples counseling or is unwilling to make any changes in his behavior, it’s difficult to fix your marriage. You may be able to change the dynamics of your … [Read more...]
A Trip Into Mediation (Or, Why I Choose Collaborative)
This article is from Angela Soper, a mental health professional and Collaborative Law Institute of Member based in Spring, working with a wide range of clients, including married couples and collaborative law clients seeking a divorce. Recently, I had the mixed blessing of sitting through a mediation session with the mother of one of my clients, in an attempt to settle her divorce. I’ve worked with both the mother and daughter for almost two years, trying to help the daughter and father come … [Read more...]
