When a married couple has serious problems impacting their relationship, spouses will sometimes turn to couples’ therapy. The goal of doing so is to hopefully work out their differences, learn how to communicate better and move on to a brighter future.
Although couples’ therapy can be a great experience and has helped countless relationships become stronger, it’s not always effective. For some couples, the issues in their marriage run so deep that no amount of counseling can overcome them. And so, while a couples’ therapist is unlikely to explicitly suggest a divorce, it may be a logical conclusion for the spouses after a series of sessions.
Understanding the role of a couples’ therapist
In most cases, couples’ therapists serve as third-party observers and mediators as two spouses address one or more issues affecting their marriage. They tend to provide very little direction and instead ask both parties to talk about what has been bothering them. They also try to keep the conversations as positive as possible, encouraging the spouses to avoid placing blame and simply try to listen to one another more actively.
To that end, these therapists generally do not give advice on what they think the outcome of a relationship should be. Rather, they let the spouses involved figure that out for themselves. It’s actually common for them to refuse to answer if one of the spouse outright asks the therapist if the couple should split.
If you would like to explore your options for seeking a divorce, consult the experienced Minnesota family law attorneys with Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A.
