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Among the 600,000 annual divorces that transpire within the United States, almost all of them begin with a marriage crisis. Whether your partner told you they want to leave the marriage, or you are wondering how to break the news that you want out, this breaking point can be filled with overwhelming emotions, worry about children becoming collateral damage, and ill-advised counseling that make navigating this process more frightening and confusing than it has to be. These heartbreaking times can propel couples into a state of fear, panic, and uncertainty about what steps they should take, sometimes leading them to divorce when reconciliation might have been possible. Known as the “Marriage Crisis Manager,” marriage and family therapist Becky Whetstone fills in these gaps by speaking to both partners on how to manage themselves and their relationship in the healthiest of ways, regardless of the eventual outcome.
In I (Think) I Want Out, Whetstone’s coaching offers clear understanding on why everyone feels crazy and overwhelmed during one of life’s most difficult experiences. By promoting peacefulness and self-care, she emphasizes the importance of both partners slowing down throughout the process. With engaging exercises and worksheets, Whetstone organizes an intelligent plan so all parties can successfully manage the crisis in a way where smart, rational decision-making can take place, and mistakes are minimized. Some of the many useful strategies and insight Whetstone provides help couples understand:
- How the marriage crisis happened in the first place
- The stages of marital deterioration and how to diagnose the severity of the marriage crisis
- How our nervous system impacts the way we feel and influences our actions
- What factors to consider: mental and physical health, abuse, and addiction
- When it’s time to separate and how to do it peacefully in a way that avoids separation limbo and moves the couple forward toward the end goal of a definitive decision
- How to manage the crisis and possible divorce amicably, ensuring the best outcome for the children
With the inclusion of useful templates that show couples how to separate in a way that encourages reconciliation and offer a plan for families whose intended divorce is done in a respectful way that encourages a good co-parenting relationship moving forward, this useful guide helps is an invaluable tool for any dissolution of a marriage.
