Will Marriage Counseling Help You Prevent a Divorce?

 Posted on February 09, 2026 in Divorce

It’s not a good feeling when you start to wonder if your marriage is broken beyond repair. Divorce rates are declining slightly as of 2026, but they remain around 30 percent for first marriages. Work stress, money problems, and daily demands can create distance between you and your spouse. Marriage counseling offers a solution for some of these stresses, but many people wonder if it will actually work.

If you are deciding whether or not your marriage is salvageable, a Bexar County family law attorney can help you understand what your options look like.

Does Marriage Counseling Actually Work?

Research shows marriage counseling can make a real difference. Despite some negative stereotypes, statistics tell a positive story.

According to Choosing Therapy, almost half of U.S. couples will go to counseling at some point in their marriage. About 70 percent of couples who commit to marital counseling see positive results. Even when therapy does not save a marriage, it can help couples prepare for an easier divorce. 

Counseling provides a place to work out agreements and learn communication skills that help with co-parenting. If you are required by a judge to go to mediation during a divorce (Texas Family Code 6.602), having better communication skills will be a big help.

Marriage counseling works best when both partners participate fully and honestly. If your spouse has already decided the marriage is over, counseling may confirm that divorce is the right path.

What Are the Biggest Problems for Marriages?

Research shows that certain issues appear over and over in struggling marriages. Understanding what challenges marriages most often can help you know when to get professional help.

Common problems include:

Poor Communication 

This is the most frequent complaint from unhappy couples. Spouses may feel their partners make too many demands, are emotionally unavailable, or get defensive when discussing things.

Financial Conflicts 

Financial stress is among the top reasons for disagreements that lead to separation. Issues include hiding debts, keeping secret accounts, or disagreements on spending versus saving.

Lack of Intimacy

If one spouse is more interested in being intimate than the other, they may feel like the other spouse is withholding on purpose. The other spouse may feel like they are always being pressured into intimacy they don't want.

Unrealistic Expectations

Many people have unrealistic ideas about what marriage or their partner should be like. The reality may lead to disappointment.

Parenting Disagreements 

Couples often struggle with different ideas about raising children. They may feel overwhelmed by the demands of parenthood. If a child is ill or disabled, this can add stress.

Work-Life Balance Problems 

Research shows that higher workloads and longer hours lead to decreased marital satisfaction over time.

External Family Conflicts 

Disagreements about in-laws or extended family obligations can create ongoing tension between spouses.

When Is It Time to Think About Divorce?

Sometimes problems just cannot be fixed. This is not necessarily a failure. If your spouse is not interested in changing things, that is out of your control. The same is true if you have very different values that neither of you is willing to change. 

Understanding that your marriage has run its course can be a positive outcome. Counseling can help you both accept this reality and move forward with less anger.

Signs that divorce might be the next step include:

• One spouse refusing to participate in counseling
• Ongoing dishonesty or betrayal
• Patterns of abuse
• Complete lack of emotional connection in spite of your best efforts

Call a San Antonio, TX Divorce Lawyer Today

If you are not sure if you should get a divorce, a good attorney can help. At Brandon Wong & Associates, our attorneys focus exclusively on family law matters. We understand the emotional and practical challenges you face when your marriage is struggling. 

Our team can help you explore all your options and make informed decisions about your future. Contact us at 210-201-3832 today to discuss your situation with a Bexar County divorce attorney.