Finding out more about separation or divorce is always best before anything is divided or sold. It can never hurt to educate yourself and talk with professionals. We are not going to push you in one direction or another, we are here to inform and support you in making the best decisions for you and your family.
Sometimes spouses have a discussion where they mutually agree that it is time to end the marriage. Other times, one spouse makes the decision to end the marriage, leaving the other one with no choice. You can delay a divorce and make it much more expensive and damaging for everyone concerned, but you can never stop it from finally happening.
If there is a prolonged physical separation within a home or a separation of homes, it is time to inquire about your rights and responsibilities during separation and perhaps divorce.
It is usually very helpful for people to work with a therapist to help clarify thoughts before beginning a separation or divorce. Our friends and family are a good source of love and support during these trying times but they do not have the objectivity and training of a good counselor. Alpha Center maintains a Resource Directory of Therapists that can help you decide whether you should begin to explore divorce and how best to handle it.
Sometimes people take steps toward separation or divorce and then decide that they want to return to working on the marriage. Their experience causes them to renew their commitment and appreciation to their spouse. Other times, they wish they had taken the steps earlier since they can now see clearly that their quality of life has suffered and will now be improved.
A therapist can help you work through your feelings about your relationship, and an Alpha Center consultation is a good way to explore your options for free without feeling like you're being pushed into a huge and costly life decision.