Deciding not to Un-Do the "I Do": a qualitative study of the therapy experiences of women who consider divorce but decide to remain married

Abstract

This preliminary study explores (1) women's experience of couple's therapy while they navigated decision-making around divorcing and (2) the role that the therapy played in the women's decision not to divorce. A phenomenological approach and qualitative method was used to gain a deeper understanding of the participant's therapeutic and decision-making experience. Women that considered initiating divorce before they turned 40 and attended at least five couple's therapy sessions (N = 15) were interviewed for this study. In general, participants reported that the therapy was helpful to them, their decision-making process and their marriages. Five main themes emerged from the interviews specifically regarding the interaction of considering divorce and couples therapy. They were: Women Initiated Therapy, Therapist Was Experienced as Neutral, Therapy was Helpful, Importance of Other Factors, and Gradual Process.