"My marriage is in trouble. What steps can I take to save it?"

It is really important that you react quickly to the realization that your marriage is in trouble. Many people do not want to acknowledge that there are problems in their marriages, and by the time that they confront the reality of the situation, it is too late.

Once you realize that there are problems, it is essential you sit down with your partner and talk about what each of you perceives to be the problems in the marriage. A marriage counselor can be extremely helpful to you at this stage, since an inability to effectively communicate or problem-solve is frequently identified as a main problem when marital problems arise. All too often, the hectic pace of life -- especially where children are involved -- means that finding the time for couples to spend working through their problems can be difficult. Investing in the cost of a good babysitter or taking time off from work may be well worth it in the long run.

Maggie Hall, MSW, Acc.FM (OAFM) provides mediation, custody assessments and counseling for families of separation and divorce from a Burlington-based office.