The story is a common one. The couple has stopped listening to one another, arguments have increased in frequency and savagery, and an icy air of disinterest has taken hold of the couple's union. In short, the marriage is in trouble. Often, one partner still wants to save the marriage, while the other is so hurt or bitter that they convince themselves that it is already over. Before you know it, both become so desperate for an end to the stalemate that they seek out counseling services. Unfortunately, many times their final efforts are too little, too late-their positions have become so entrenched that neither can be moved, even by the most gifted therapist. So when is the right time for counseling services? The right time for marriage counseling services varies from couple to couple, but in each case that time is identifiable by one simple factor-it must come before the attitudes of each individual have hardened to a point where dialogue becomes impossible. This is often hard to pinpoint exactly, which is why smart couples will begin to actively work on their marriage the moment it looks as though there is trouble brewing.

Does that mean that at the first sign of an argument, they should grab the keys to the car and rush off to seek counseling services? Not at all - but it does mean that they have to be prepared to actively engage their partner to work through each problem as it appears. Counseling services can serve an important role in helping married couples restore their sense of balance and reopen the channels of communication that repeated conflict or neglect can destroy. But there are a host of things that either partner can do to help the relationship prior to seeking counseling services. After all, the end result of many counseling programs is that each partner learns that they did, in fact, bear a proportionate share of the fault for the problems in their marriage. If most partners would start from that recognition, they could strengthen their marriage without a counselor. Unfortunately, few people are gifted with such personal insight when in the midst of a situation that seems to be spiraling out of control. Without it, the right time for counseling services is at that moment when you feel as though you and your partner are no longer working toward the same end.

However, without both parties participating, traditional marriage counseling services have little hope of being successful. Fortunately, there has been a rapid growth in alternative counseling services that have proven effective even when only one partner is initially open to reconciliation. Light His Fire, and the companion program, Light Her Fire, together form the nucleus of one of these alternative marriage counseling programs. Created by Dr. Ellen Kreidman, this program has proven effective in helping many couples come to grips with their own needs, as well as those of their partner. More than a million copies have been sold, and the feedback from those who have been helped by Dr. Kreidman's methodology is available for all to see. To see what others are saying about this marriage-saving phenomenon, and to learn more about the program, go to http://www.marriagecounselingalternative.com

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