Should I Stay or Should I Go? Should I get a Divorce or Not? Counseling in Austin
These are all too common questions for some of my clients. The decision to stay in a committed relationship is a serious one. What many clients do not know is that there is a third option. If your relationship has become so contentious that you feel like one of you needs to move out but you are not confident that a divorce is truly the right answer, then consider pursuing a controlled separation contract.
This is an agreement that you make with the help of a trained facilitator to negotiate the terms of the separation.
Some terms might include:
- The length of time of the separation (3 months, 6 months, etc.)
- The stability of finances during this time frame
- Who will be moving out and where will they live
- The decision to date others or not during this time
- Visitation with children and /or pets
- Frequency of social or sexual contact with your spouse
We Want to Help Couples Find Relationship Solutions
If you feel your marriage is in crisis and you don’t know whether you should stay or go (to get a divorce or not), then take the opportunity to learn more about this third option: a controlled separation. You owe it to yourself to invest in the time to discover which decision is right for you and your partner.
This is not a legally binding document. It is an agreement that you make with your partner in the presence of the mediator/coach.
The concept allows each party to contribute to “active waiting” while they individually work through their issues and examine what they need out of the relationship. Sometimes it is very hard to do this while living in a stressful environment and the other person is in the home.
If you are seeking a qualified controlled separation coach in the greater Austin community, contact me, Debbie Roberson, licensed professional counselor and owner of Thriveworks Counseling in North Austin.
Call 512-649-2270 or click the button below to learn more.
By, Deborah H. Roberson, M.A., NCC, LPC — Thriveworks North Austin Counseling
