Effective Divorce Counseling Posted on November 9, 2017, updated on March 2, 2022 by Gateway Counseling Divorce counseling or divorce therapy is counseling that is sought after a divorce. With fifty percent of marriages leading to separation, there are more and more people who need help cooping afterward. Divorce counseling is a way for those people to get the help and closure they need. Often, the dissolution of a marriage can leave a lot of feelings unresolved. They might be pain, anger or humiliation. In some cases, they are feelings that cannot be identified by the person. They just know that something isn’t right and they aren’t what they feel like is themselves. Do I Need Divorce Counseling? Regardless of how long you were married, whether you need divorce counseling or not is something that you have to determine for yourself. You are the only one who knows how you feel and whether you need help. You are also the only one who can decide if divorce counseling will help you. And since you have to want the support for it to work, you have to make that decision. Divorce counseling isn’t just something you go and sit through. It guides you to correct how you feel about what you have been through. And, for many people, divorce counseling is a way for you to sort through residual problems from your marriage, as well. How Does Divorce Counseling Work? After you have seen your counselor for some time; you will feel better, overall. You will notice that there are less anger and pain regarding your marriage. There will also be some brighter feelings about life and society as a whole. Sure, you will still have problems here and there. Not everything will be rainbows and lollipops. But, you will notice that your feelings about your divorce, marriage and even former spouse are no longer as heavy as they used to be. Signs You Need Divorce Counseling If you cannot stop thinking about things related to your divorce, you might need a little help coping. If you find that you have problems concentrating on your future and making plans. You feel like you are stuck in a phase of depression. There are regular feelings of anger, aggression, risk-taking, breaking the rules and thoughts of suicide. There are signs of sleeping problems, eating disorders or substance abuse. Feelings about the entire ordeal keep you from moving forward. Feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness are stifling any positive feelings you have, and frequently. You think you have completely lost your mind and just don’t know where to start. You can’t see a new beginning after your divorce or a new life. Lastly, if you need someone to talk to, but just can’t find the right person. Ever. Benefits of Divorce Counseling Divorce counseling will help you move through the aftermath of your marriage, as well as the dissolution of it. You will find that you can identify your feelings better and express them more. It helps you understand and correct the distortions in your thinking about the decision and determine coping skills that will work for you. The ability to speak to an expert who has seen this before is something that will make the process of moving on more comfortable, as well as faster. They can help you build new skills that will help you communicate, negotiate and manage feelings better. These strategies will not only help you in your current state but in future relationships as well as other facets of your life. In many ways, the communication skills acquired in these sessions can be applied in work and family lives. You will also find that you have more confidence and feel happier. This will lead you to an understanding that you can be happy again. Seeking Professional Help If you have questions about divorce counseling, you can read more here. But, it is best to ask a professional directly. Not everyone’s case is the same, and you might need divorce counseling more than you realize. You want to make sure that you have someone who is experienced in divorce counseling and not just any therapy. There are a lot of emotions that go along with the dissolution of marriage, and the process itself has a lot to do with it. They will need to understand that process, how it can make you feel and how it can affect you after the decree has been signed. This isn’t something that just anyone can help you through. Friends and family will always mean well, but they are not objective to their experiences. Having a professional who can see and guide you through these complicated emotions makes all the difference in the world. If you are going to invest the time in counseling sessions and bettering yourself, you should spend them with someone who has experience in this field. You can start your research here. It is important to remember to be honest and open. But, the most important thing to remember is that it will all be okay.