Divorces in England and Wales have fallen to their lowest level in nearly 30 years according to figures published by the National Office for Statistics and part of the reason could be good marriage counselling
In 2008, the divorce rate in England and Wales decreased by 2.5% to 11.5 divorcing people per 1,000 married people, compared with 11.8 in 2007, statistics showed.
The 2008 divorce rate in England and Wales was the lowest since 1979, when there were 11.2 divorces per 1,000 married people.
Family lawyer Martin Loxley said the reduction in divorces could be the result of better marriage counselling and a rise in separation agreements.
“Although the majority of people who contact a lawyer with marital problems go on to divorce their partner at some stage, we have seen an increase in the number marriages saved through marriage counselling and therapy.”
However, Sue Terry, who runs the Bournemouth-based marriage counselling service New Horizons, warned that although the figures appeared positive they might not be indicative of the bigger picture.
“These figures only relate to couples who have actually tied the knot over the last thirty years, and in that time we have become much more tolerant as a society of partners co-habiting outside marriage, she said.
“I am delighted that some commentators are suggesting that marriage counselling has brought about this improvement, but in 2010 the focus needs to be on relationship counselling rather than marriage counselling.” She added.
Whether analysing difficulties in marriage or in a less formal partnership, anecdotal evidence shows that counselling is still considered the best way to work through these problems.
Claire Tyler, from relationship counselling organisation Relate, said: “Eighty per cent of respondents to a Relate survey, who wanted to keep their relationship together, said they felt counselling helped to strengthen their relationship.”
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