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The online alternative to marriage counseling
In order to legally separate, a couple needs to claim reasons for a divorce, also know as “grounds for divorce.” Each state has a differently worded list of claims and slightly different laws, but there is considerable overlap. Adultery, sexual misconduct, alcoholism, mental Illness, withholding sex or carnal abandonment, drug addiction are examples of legally available reasons for a divorce in most states.
Because of no-fault divorce, couples no longer have to prove the “fault” (such as evidence of adultery, etc) of one spouse in order to divorce, and can simply agree to separate by claiming “irreconcilable differences.” Since this popular reason for divorce is vaguely worded, it is difficult to measure exactly why divorces occur. According to an independent 17-year study from Pennsylvania State University published in 2003, the two leading self-reported reasons for divorce among separating couples are:
The following made up much smaller but still significant portions:
See how your relationship measures up and find out what areas could be improved!
Begin the Relationship QuizThere are certainly many cases where divorce is the best option for the health, happiness and safety of all involved (read our article on abusive relationships or blog post Should I get a divorce? for more on this). At the same time, many of the common reasons for a divorce are actually fixable problems. Your marriage can recover, grow and prosper by learning the marriage skills needed to improve intimacy, communication and positivity. Let’s look at some common complaints of divorcing couples:
Power of Two’s skills-based approach to marriage counseling has been scientifically proven to help couples rebuild their marriages, even if only one spouse does the program. Become a member and start messaging your personal coach right away!
Funding for this project was provided by the United States Department of Health Services, Administration for Children and Families, Grant 90-FE-0123.Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Department of Health and Human Servies, Administration for Children and Families.