| You cannot go to far these days whether driving | | | | advice, or turning to friends and family when your |
| down the highway you can listen to Dr. Laura who | | | | marriage is in trouble. For one thing, your friends and |
| dispenses with marital advice. You could open the | | | | family may have a tendency to take your side on |
| New York Times and get advice on marriage from | | | | things, or may not realize when you're just telling your |
| Erma Bombeck. The choices are virtually endless. But | | | | side of the story without being honest as to how your |
| if all the advice coming from experts were correct, | | | | own behavior is contributing to the problem. Also, |
| why is it that about half of all marriages in America | | | | getting marriage advice means revealing some of the |
| end in divorce? What is the real problem? | | | | problems you're having in your marriage, and your |
| You see, there are so many choices of marital advice | | | | spouse may not like you airing your dirty laundry to |
| that you can easily become confused. So how could | | | | these people or talking to your parents or your best |
| someone tell the difference between good counsel | | | | friend about his or her personal business. |
| and downright dangerous advice? | | | | Sound Advice is RARE |
| The Myth of The Expert | | | | In cases such as these, it might be good to speak to |
| One myth perpetuated today, is that you need to have | | | | an actual counselor for marriage advice. There is |
| an advanced degree or be a licensed family therapist | | | | usually something much safer about talking to a |
| or even have a PhD in psychology in order to give | | | | third-party stranger that doesn't know you when |
| good advice. If those myths were true, then why do | | | | discussing personal business. Also, he or she may be |
| we have so many men and women hurting in | | | | able to recognize difficult problems that your friends |
| relationships that no longer work? | | | | may not be experienced with. While your friend may |
| It is true that you do not need to be a licensed | | | | be able to listen to your problems, he or she may not |
| hypnotherapist in or to dispense with meaningful | | | | be able to offer sound marriage advice for how to |
| advice. What is really odd is that in early 1900's people | | | | effectively deal with these problems. Many people |
| ordinarily did not get divorced. Marital problems were | | | | need someone to just talk to or to vent their |
| handled by clergy, ministers, maybe the family doctor, | | | | frustrations to occasionally, but to really address your |
| town Mayor or in the family. | | | | problems and get marriage advice on how to make |
| Who Are Your Listening To? | | | | them go away, you may need to call in the |
| There is danger in just accepting anyone's marriage | | | | professionals. |