Divorce, the disillusionment of a marriage is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties. The legal process of divorce may also involve issues of alimony, child custody, child support, distribution of property, and division of debt.

The end of a marriage is one of the most stressful events a person can experience. Even for the partner who chooses to leave, divorce is likely to bring up a range of painful and difficult emotions, possibly including grief, guilt, anger, confusion, fear, shame, anxiety, and other intense feelings. If children are involved, the stress level is likely to be even higher. People sometimes seek therapy to help them decide whether to stay in a marriage or leave. Others may seek help making the transition from marriage to being single again. Both these goals can be addressed in individual or couple’s work.