...and avoiding divorce

The most encouraging news in terms of preventing marital breakdown appeared on your front page (“Tax breaks for premarital counseling?” February 20). As reported by Jeremy Sharon, legislation is proposed by Likud MK Yehuda Glick offering incentives for engaged couples registering for premarital counseling courses.

Some 20 years ago, the Shalshelet Marriage and Counseling Center provided premarital counseling courses for engaged couples to reduce the alarming rate of divorce (though unfortunately without the benefit of legislation and tax benefits). A longitudinal study found that there was indeed a reduction in the divorce rate among those who participated as compared with those couples who did not.

However, an important element was that couples were given premarital counseling in groups. During 12 sessions that covered issues found to lead to divorce based on a study by Prof. Nachum Rackover, couples also made long-term friends. Shalshelet’s method also included participative dynamics in which couples shared their cultural norms on topics ranging from budgeting to spare-time activities and attitudes toward child rearing.

So let’s take out the question mark. To MK Glick, go for it! It’s a long overdue development that can not only prevent family breakdowns, but enhance marriage.

PESSY KRAUSZ

Jerusalem The writer is a psychotherapist and founder of the Shalshelet Enhancing Relationships Center.