Marriage Counseling and Divorce
Pete and Melinda sat before the counselor as two happy people. Both had decided to get a divorce after 17 years of marriage. Both were happy with the decision. Both entered couples therapy because they had seen their parents and friends go through protracted, bitter divorces and were prepared to separate amiably. They wanted the assistance of a counselor to ensure their parting would be peaceful and that their 17 year old daughter would experience as little upset as possible.
Melinda met Pete in high school, where they dated and Melinda became pregnant her senior year. Pete insisted on marriage though both agreed they were never much in love. When Sam was born both endured for the sake of the daughter, which was something they wanted to make peace with, since that felt that this only created sadness and pain in Sam’s life. When Sam entered high school herself, she began getting in trouble and was caught drinking several times. The counselor aided the couple in looking back at their history and reconciling themselves with a long stretch of difficult times.
Marriage counseling can be a way to help couples end well and to avoid legal struggles. Pete and Melinda said they preferred to see their “money in the hands of a therapist, not lawyers.” They knew that if they could work through any old pain, it would only facilitate their divorce. Besides, after all these years together, they just wanted to be happier with one another, even if from a distance, since their daughter would be in both of their lives.
