I know from personal experience how difficult it can be to leave an abusive relationship – it took me 3 attempts (not bad considering the average number is 8). Leaving any relationship that you have invested time and energy into is difficult, even when you know it is the right thing to do. As empathetic carers we struggle with guilt and can find more reasons to stay than to leave.
There are many questions we ask ourselves – where will I go? How will I manage financially? What about the children?
All of this ‘stuff’ can be sorted bit by bit – the most important thing primarily is safety – if you are in an abusive relationship you must seek professional advice before you make the decision to leave. This is vital to ensure you leave safely.
2 women die every week in the UK due to domestic abuse and often within the early months after separation, so I cannot stress this enough.
Even if you aren’t in an abusive relationship, it can be helpful to discuss your options with a Coach to ensure that you make a fully informed decision. Friends and family can be helpful but they don’t always know the systems – divorce, Family Court and financial proceedings can all be daunting if you don’t have someone to talk you through the processes.
Having an independent Coach, someone who isn’t emotionally involved can give you honest perspective. Sometimes it seems everyone has an opinion on what you should/shouldn’t do, and you just get more and more confused. Some of the decisions you have to make during a separation are big decisions that can affect you for many years to come – a Coach can be honest and help you see the pro’s and cons of choices you can make, ensure you are confident with your decisions and help you see the path that is right for YOU.
If you are unsure about your relationship, no matter what stage you are at or if you are struggling after your relationship has ended and wondering what life holds for you now, Coaching can help. Coaching is about change that lasts. Practical strategies to help you move forwards – we can’t change what has already happened but we can learn from it and create a future that is exciting and after all, life is too short to be unhappy, right?
