Divorce Counsellor says recession may be good for marriage

Nov 5
07:58

2010

Liz Fletcher

Liz Fletcher

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Divorce counsellor Sue Terry says that the economic downturn may have prevented some ‘at risk’ marriages from collapsing because couples have stuck together through the hard times.

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Her claim is supported by evidence from the American Academy of Matrimonial lawyers,Divorce Counsellor says recession may be good for marriage Articles who have revealed recently that the divorce rate has plummeted by a whopping 40% since the beginning of the economic downturn in 2008.

The New York Times has dubbed the phenomenon: ‘Sleeping with the enemy’, but is that reading of the situation an unduly cynical analysis of this behaviour?

Divorce counsellor Sue, who runs New Horizons: a life coaching and counselling firm in Bournemouth, Dorset, said that many couples having problems during the tough times had shown great character by staying together, even if the driving factor was money.

Sue said: “As a divorce counsellor you often see people who are extremely unhappy and feel that even the process of attempting to work out differences in a relationship seems pointless.

“However, as we know, money is huge driver of human behaviour and if couples whose relationships are at risk attempt to tough it out through the difficult economic times for the greater good, then that can only be good for the institution of marriage.

“Divorce counsellors will tell you that having a shared interest like survival can have the effect of bringing together people who have drifted apart; actually making their relationship stronger in the long-term.” She added.

Of course, it remains to be seen whether there will be a massive flood of divorce applications proceeding through the family courts when the bad times are over and steady growth has returned to the economy.

But divorce counsellors may have to concentrate on marriage counselling for now though, as the green shoots of recovery are only just beginning to appear.

Check out Dorset Divorce Counsellor Sue Terry! Offering relationship, marriage and divorce counselling across Hampshire & Bournemouth!