Providing divorce and relationship coaching, Marc Miller, PhD, emphasizes the importance of communication. Understanding how challenging a divorce can be, Dr. Marc L. Miller works with clients in communicating closely with each other and understanding good and bad patterns of behavior that may have built up over the years.
Research by a University of Washington professor spanning 79 couples across the Midwest focused on four negative behaviors that can be predictors of divorce. Within the context of a 15-minute conversation, researchers measured the frequency of contempt, criticism, defensiveness, and stonewalling. This data was combined with questions on aspects of marriage such as relationship satisfaction and how often thoughts of separation had occurred. With these analytics in hand, researchers predicted an eventual divorce, within a 14-year period, with 93 percent accuracy.
A more recent study, spanning 373 newlywed couples, reinforced these findings. Those couples who displayed behaviors such as contempt and yelling, or tended to shut down conversations around major issues, were significantly more likely to divorce, even 16 years down the line. What these studies suggest is that the quality of everyday interactions, with bad behaviors often being reinforced, is vital in determining the strength of a marriage.
Relationship coaching with a Professional Certified Coach like Dr. Miller is an excellent way to improve the quality of marital relationships and prevent marriages from falling apart and leading to divorce.
