Reports today suggest that Cheryl and Ashley Cole have agreed to attend counselling in a bid to save their troubled marriage.
 
If there is any possibility of saving the marriage, counselling is the sensible way forward.  To begin divorce proceedings, Cheryl (or Ashley) must confirm to the Court that their marriage has irretrievably broken down.  It seems that one or both of them at the moment are not sure that the marriage cannot be saved with some professional help.
 
Couples often separate when they experience a difficult patch in their relationship, believing that time apart and a period of reflection will heal wounds.  However, a trial separation is unlikely to solve the issues that are causing the relationship to suffer as the same problems will still be there.
 
Relationship counselling provides a safe environment for both parties to air their views of what is right and wrong in the relationship and work to resolve them.  It can help with a specific problem or with many grievances and issues that have been stored up over the years.  All kinds of issues are addressed at counselling, from coping with a new baby and how it changes a relationship, through to whether a relationship can survive after infidelity.  Counsellors are not there to tell you what to do, but they will guide you through the issues in your relationship and help you find a way of resolving what is preventing your relationship working.
 
We work with many counsellors and psychotherapists providing counselling to our clients.  For further information on counselling, please contact Deborah Jeff or visit www.relate.org.uk.