CCC 28-2_LR

HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS

Loving Well in a Disappointing Marriage: WHY IT’S STILL WORTH THE WORK

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Sharon May, Ph.D.

Many couples in midlife and beyond share a quiet ache: “This is not the marriage I thought I’d have.” For counsel ors working with older adults in their 50s, 60s, and 70s, or perhaps in your own marriage, this disappointment often arises when careers shift, children leave, and couples reexamine their relationships. Sometimes the frustration

is sharp, filled with criticism, emotional distance, and betrayal. At other times, it is a dull ache, with parallel lives and lost tenderness. Add caregiving stress, financial pressure, health challenges, or adult children in crisis, and a struggling marriage feels especially heavy.

26 Christian Counseling Connection