Like a derailed train, the marriage of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver’s marriage is hurtling towards its inevitable crash. But there is such a concept as “divorce busters” and “divorce busting” which can, shall we say, get marriages back on track and prevent a calamitous conclusion.
Another California couple, feeling the seven-year itch and were emotionally divorced but living in the same house, salvaged their marriage by attending “Reconciling God’s Way,” a 12-week course taught at Big Valley Grace Community Church in Modesto, Calif., by couples who have rebuilt their own relationships. Inspired by their experience, they, in turn, became “lay leaders,” guiding other couples.
Such “divorce busting” approaches are relatively new, and, in contrast to traditional marital therapy, they are short-term, less expensive and solution-oriented, the Los Angeles Times reports. Divorce intervention methods have proliferated largely in the last decade as research on the negative effects of divorce has increased and as marriage preservation therapies and premarital education courses have grown, said Michael Bowers, executive director of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT) in Washington, D.C.
“More than 10 years ago, we were featuring what has now become known as ‘divorce busting’ types of intervention programs at our annual conference to train therapists,” said Bowers.
In this era of rampant divorce, Michele Weiner-Davis, MSW (www.marriagebusting.com), clearly believes that the vast majority of divorces in our country are absolutely unnecessary because most relationship problems are solvable. For those dangling off the marriage ledge, you might want to check out the site or get on the horn to see if your union can be salvaged. –terry shropshire
