In classical literature, tragedies end with death while comedies end with marriage. In real life, however, marriage is not always a sign of comedy. For more than 30 years, the divorce rate in the United States has remained at around 50 percent for first marriages. The divorce rate for second marriages is even higher. And even among people who stay married, the number who describe themselves as happy, according to researchers, is only about 50 percent.

Research has shown repeatedly that the quality of a couple’s communication about problems is the single factor that best distinguishes happy from unhappy marriages and committed relationships. The ability to communicate well also is the best indicator of relationship satisfaction and stability over time. In other words, it is not the number of problems a couple experiences, individual personalities or differences of opinion that distinguish happy from unhappy relationships. Instead, it is how couples talk about their problems and differences. Communication is the key, and communication skills can be learned.

In couples therapy, whether for married couples or those in committed relationships, couples learn how to identify destructive forms of communication and how to develop effective communication and problem-solving techniques. Couples learn how to use their creativity and resources to preserve the strength of their relationship while meeting the challenges that life brings.