When a marriage is not working, many opt for marriage counseling. It can be a good place for a married couple to discuss their difficulties in the marriage in the hopes of resolving them.
Many couples can walk out of counseling in a better place. The hope for many is that a compromise can be forged on key areas of difficulty and that the marriage can continue.
Marriage counselors that are good at what they do can get both parties talking. They can also help parties engage in a discourse that can lead to a better understanding and middle ground.
Marriage counseling does not always work
In some cases, however, reconciliation attempts do not work in marriage counseling. The truth is that parties may end up no closer than when the process began. In other circumstances, the parties may be further apart.
When one or both parties decide they cannot save their marriage, marriage counseling can be a place to discuss collaborative divorce. It might be that the parties can at least agree that litigation is not the option they want for them and their family.
Litigation can make it difficult for parties to get along in the future. When the parties have children, they will need to co-parent. Co-parenting can be difficult after a contentious divorce.
Parties can discuss collaborative divorce during counseling
However, in counseling, the parties can discuss their desire to forego litigation and try collaborative divorce instead. The parties might even talk about the collaborative divorce lawyers they intend to use.
A marriage counselor might also help the parties see the benefits of a collaborative divorce versus a litigated divorce. Many marriage counselors may be able to explain the benefits to one or both of the parties.
Even while marriage counseling may not always work, it could lead to a divorce done amicably versus through litigation.