When a Massachusetts relationship has become strained, both parties often want to make a change. Deciding how to move forward, however, can be a bit of a challenge. In many cases, spouses are unsure whether to spend the time and energy trying to repair the marriage, or simply move forward with a divorce. The following tips are offered in the hopes of making those decisions easier to reach.

At the end of the day, a marriage is an important bond, and is a significant aspect of an adult’s life. In cases in which the marriage can be saved, spouses should make every effort to do so. Some couples grow apart as they move through the transitions of life, such as when children enter the family or when they leave as adults. In these cases, the bond between husband and wife can sometimes be strengthened with the proper focus and effort.

One way to know that a marriage is salvageable is when both spouses are willing to try counseling. The desire to make the effort signifies that both parties still hold hope that their bond can persevere. In addition, couples counseling is always more effective when both parties are willing to fully participate in the process.

When a Massachusetts couple is unsure how to move forward through difficult times, the best course of action is to try all available methods of strengthening and preserving the bond between them. In some cases, counseling will be successful, and both spouses will gain insight from the process. For others, counseling can reveal that the damage done is simply too substantial, and that divorce may present the best possible option for all involved. In such cases, spouses can walk away from their marriage with the knowledge that they gave the union their best effort, and that the decision to divorce was the right choice.

Source: The Huffington Post, Divorce Confidential: When Divorce Is a Bad Idea, Carolina Choi, Dec. 18, 2013