NOTE: This is the second part of a two-part blog, where I speak about how I got into counseling. Please read well and learn.

In less than a month of marriage, I found out that my new wife, Joan, was a kleptomaniac. She took money from my sister right under our noses and pretended to help us look for it. If not for the CCTV camera in the restaurant we were at, no one would have found out about it.

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Counseling/More About Counseling

Why did I get Into counseling?

What is counseling and how does it work? What are the forms of counseling and is it effective? How did it work for me and why did I turn to counseling? Here’s the story of my counseling journey.

As the CCTV footage was playing, everyone got so quiet. I was holding my breath myself because I hoped that doing so would make the scene on the screen seem unreal. That time, counseling came to mind but I quickly brushed it off. People have talked about counseling and how counseling helped them with their issues.

“All right. I know we all saw the same thing, but perhaps there’s another explanation for it.” Elle uttered carefully.

Hearing that made me want the ground to open under my wheelchair so I could fall into an abyss. I could not believe that behind my wife’s gorgeousness was an ugly and unacceptable habit. And neither my family nor I deserved that.

Where could counseling fit right in?

Could counseling have helped in that situation?

What could counseling do?

My wife excused herself during the commotion because she was apparently getting a call. When we met her at the lobby, she still feigned concern over what happened. The rest of my family was so awkward and did not know what to tell Joan. To everyone’s surprise, Joan tried to deny it. Deep inside, I wished she had known about counseling. Perhaps counseling could have enlightened her about her problem – who knew? I just heard that counseling could solve various issues.

Counseling Before Getting Divorced

Divorce Counseling

I contacted a divorce lawyer the following day. I realized I did it with a not-so-heavy heart – one indication that I made the right choice. The lawyer advised counseling to me, explaining the benefits of counseling and how counseling would improve the frustrations I felt. I told him I was open to counseling and that I hoped counseling would ease my disappointments.

Joan surprised me for the third time – and not in a good way. “We have not been married for long, and you already did the unthinkable to my family. I’ll make sure you won’t get a single cent from me ever,” I uttered as calmly as possible.

That was the last time that Joan and I spoke as a couple. The jury initially wanted us to go through marriage counseling, but I made my case clear, so they did not push it. I believed that as a couple, we wouldn’t benefit from counseling. Perhaps we would but as individuals – counseling for her condition and for me, counseling to get over our marriage.

Surviving All That Through Counseling

It was not on my own, of course. My family supported my decision when I made it clear that I would not stand beside someone who would commit a crime towards them. The amount that Joan stole was easy to earn, but my trust would forever be broken. My family went through a few sessions of counseling as well.

Counseling Also Helped Me Through The Process

I also met a counselor during the divorce process. I felt myself spiraling down, and I did not want to get depressed over what’s happening in my life. Counseling helped me evaluate and organize my emotions to express them appropriately. Counseling helped me pick up the brokenness I felt from my marriage.

In truth, this two-part blog is the result of my counseling sessions. Counseling did encourage me to express myself through words, but she chose to do it in any form.

Final Thoughts And Insights On Counseling

In my case, my family welcomed the love of my life and was willing to overlook her petty theft for my sake. If you experience something remotely similar to that, choose your family over your partner because only the former cares for you.

If you think you can’t tackle your issues by yourself, try to read about counseling. You might benefit from some form of counseling for your mental and emotional health.