A Bloomington marriage counselor said she's getting more requests for counseling as the pandemic causes more stress and family friction.
Therapist Brittany Malak said whether these stresses lead to more divorces could depend on how long sheltering-in-place lasts.
“Whether that ends up in divorce, whether that doesn’t, I think time will tell,” Malak said. “But one thing I think I can say with certainty is it’s going to put that stress and going to put that strain that may potentially lead some couples down that path.”
Malak said spending more time with loved ones can increase tension, while many are dealing with job losses or fear of losing income.
“There’s a lot of uncertainty about the future, which causes a lot of anxiety, so a lot more individuals are having fears or are anxious about the future,” Malak said.
Malak said whenever there's a dispute about finances, it helps to figure out what money means to you.
“There’s usually a deeper meaning of security or freedom or stability and bringing up more of those emotions so it becomes less of a conflict between the two of them, but it’s something that can be emotionally joining together,” she said.
Malak is doing all therapy virtually. She said it allows for more flexibility and will likely be used more often after the pandemic. While technical glitches can sometimes cause or diffuse tension, the digital format can be more comfortable because clients can be at home.
“Sometimes coming into the therapy office can be really intimidating,” Malak said. “For a lot of my couples, I’m sure it’s relieving and beneficial to just cozy up on their own couch, with their dogs and their cats and be in their own environment.”
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