Marriage Counseling Surprise: Expert Says An Unhappy Marriage Can Actually Improve The New Year”

BIRMINGHAM, AL, Jan. 9, 2006 – Marriage counseling expert Nancy Wasson says a unhappy marriage can actually make the New Year better. She has a 5-step strategy for claiming success in 2006, even in the face of a marriage crisis.

• Start the New Year with small changes that reap big rewards. Wasson tells about one woman who broke the habit of watching the 10 o’clock news before going to bed. “All the talk of crime and war depressed her. When she replaced the news by reading motivational books she got more sleep and woke up rested. This small change helped put her future in focus,” says Wasson. “She could make sound decisions about the direction of her marriage.”

• Don’t put your life on hold. The New Year is about more than your marriage. Make new friends. Spend more time with your children – they’re growing up every day. See more of your parents – or see less of them if the relationship is stressful. Pursue a new hobby. Surprise yourself and others with the pleasure that comes from learning new things and meeting new people.

• Tame your inner critic in 2006. One university study showed that 90% of the thoughts people have about themselves are negative. Critical self-talk has a deep impact on marriage and every other important relationship. Is it any surprise that others start believing what you’re thinking about yourself? Be gentle. Praise yourself often. Positive feelings show through. They can even change the way your spouse treats you.

• Get help when you need it. Make marriage counseling an integral part of your New Year self-help agenda – even if your spouse refuses to have anything to do with it. Sound marriage advice provides hope and direction. Confiding in a professional who is not a member of your inner circle of family and friends empowers your independence. It may take two to tango, but it doesn’t take two people to make marriage counseling work.

• Prepare for setbacks and obstacles. 2006 will not be the perfect year for anyone – not even for those mythical few who seem to have the perfect mate and the perfect home life. The stress that comes with disappointment can create self-defeating behaviors. The search for happiness is not a simple journey. More often than not, it is five steps forward and three steps back. The trick – with every stumble – is to regroup and go forward again.


• Make your unhappy marriage a platform for self-improvement. Over the next twelve months, vow to live life with a positive outlook, tempered with realistic expectations. Really listen to what others are saying. Practice patience to curb anger.

Life is less than ideal when marriage problems are an issue, says Wasson. “Yet, 2006 could still end up being one of your best years ever. Move forward. Look ahead, not behind and do the very best with what you have right now. This puts you in an ideal position for good things to happen – maybe even a happier marriage.”

Marriage counseling expert Nancy Wasson, Ph.D., has been a Licensed Professional Counselor for more than twenty years. She coaches couples in unhappy marriages and provides immediate help through the privacy of telephone and email consultations. She is the author of “Keep Your Marriage: What to Do When Your Spouse Says ‘I Don’t Love You Anymore!’ ” She offers a free weekly marriage advice newsletter at www.KeepYourMarriage.com.

Lee Hefner, President
Adesso Press
205-989-7770
www.KeepYourMarriage.com