Marriage Counseling as a Last Hope
When Maurice and Sharon started marriage counseling, they didn’t think there was much chance. Both had separated from one another for over 2 years. They had also began seeing other people. But after this time apart, both considered themselves deeply unhappy. They decided on counseling because it gave them an opportunity to explore their marital dynamic and in turn, the reason for this chronic unhappiness.
According to Sharon:
This is a classic case of “can’t live with him, can’t live without him.” We always seem to rub each other the wrong way. Our family was thrilled when we separated. People were tired of hearing us constantly squabbling. We were tired of it too. But after all of this time, I can’t really see wanting to move forward, into the future, without him. But something has to shift. This arguing has made us sick after all of these years. There has to be a better way.
The counselor went to work finding a “better way” for Maurice and Sharon. Individually he recognized that both were experiencing a good deal of depression and needed to contend with it before they could truly focus on one another. After some individual sessions for both parties, the couple went to work at recreating a new relationship, getting to know each other again and building communication dynamics that would end the squabbling. They still attend therapy both have decided to move back in with one another. Both are happy to have a “second chance” with one another.
