A focused intervention when your marriage is on the brink.
If your marriage is in crisis, the first priority is stabilization.
When one or both of you are talking about divorce, your nervous systems are often highly activated, and one partner is frequently ambivalent or already leaning out. In that context, traditional marriage therapy is usually not the appropriate first step.
A Marriage Crisis Consultation is a focused intervention for individuals or couples designed to stabilize the situation, reduce reactivity, and bring clarity before decisions are made that cannot be undone.
When a marriage is in crisis, waiting often makes things worse.
A marriage crisis consultation is designed to help you slow things down, understand what’s happening, and decide what to do next.
If you’re ready for experienced guidance during this difficult moment, schedule a consultation below.
After the consultation, if this approach isn’t the right fit, Becky will recommend another qualified professional.
If you are Here, chances are …
- One of you is done – or close to done.
- Every conversation turns into a fight or shutdown.
- You’re afraid to make a decision you can’t undo.
- Therapy hasn’t helped, or has made things worse.
This is not a growth phase.
It is a crisis phase.
Traditional Couples Therapy Is Not What You Need Right Now.
Crisis work Requires a Different First-Step.
A marriage crisis Consultation Is designed to:
- Slow things down.
- Reduce emotional reactivity.
- Clarify what’s actually happening.
- Identify whether repair is possible – and what it would require.
Sometimes the most important work is stopping stuckness and further harm or damage.
Think: calm. Settled.
A message from Becky Whetstone, PhD
The Marriage Crisis Manager
Dear Friend,
If you are in a marriage crisis, I want you to know about my experience, so you can rest assured that during this important time in your life, you are in good hands. I take working with individuals and couples experiencing a marriage crisis seriously. It’s a frightening situation, and the stakes are high.
Many clients come to me after:
- Years of dysfunction, frustration, and unhappiness
- Failed therapy attempts
- Escalating conflict or emotional shutdown
- Feeling stuck and not knowing what to do.
My initial role is to help you think clearly in a moment of emotional overload.
I am a licensed marriage & family therapist with 20+ years of experience working with individuals and couples in a marriage crisis. I wrote my dissertation on the subject, studied the research, and understand what’s happening and know which steps couples need to take that are best for their individual situations. Because marriage crises require a different structure and skill set than traditional therapy provides, I developed a specialized approach to this work. In 2025, my book I (Think) I Want Out: What to Do When One of You Wants Out was published by HCI Books, explaining almost every aspect of a marriage crisis and things to consider. I teach marriage therapists worldwide how to do this work.
Helping couples in crisis is an art and a science. I see it as a short-term intervention designed to stabilize couples and prepare them for what comes next, whether it is marriage therapy, reconciliation, separation, amicable divorce, or other options. My goal is to help families find the best, healthy options and make well-thought-out decisions they won’t regret. Then, to implement the decisions in a way that lasts.
Marriage Crisis Management is not marriage therapy. It is a specialized process designed for marriages on the brink. I do not charge an hourly fee; my fees are based on the process we are undertaking, which is unique and unlike other therapy models. The first step in this process is to slow things down and stabilize so we can create space for rational decisions. We help couples during one of life’s most difficult experiences and provide the resources and knowledge they will need to make the best decision for their family.
The marriage crisis consultation is a 90-minute, specialized conversation designed to help you understand what’s going on and to stabilize. You will tell your story, get to know me, and I will tell you what I recommend for you at the end of the session. After the consultation, if we are a good fit and I believe this approach is appropriate for you, I may invite you to continue in a Marriage Crisis Management Program. Otherwise, I will provide a referral to another qualified professional.
I hope that the information I provide here is helpful, and if you schedule a consultation, I’ll do all I can to help you.
Warmly,
Becky Whetstone, PhD
The Marriage Crisis Manager
What to expect:
During your Marriage Crisis Consultation, we will:
- Identify the core dynamics driving the crisis.
- Interrupt patterns that are causing damage
- Clarify immediate risks and next steps.
- Determine whether further work together makes sense.
You will leave with:
- Greater emotional steadiness.
- A clearer understanding of your situation.
- A realistic set of options.
Working in Marriage Crisis Management is difficult; therefore we limit available times. After the initial consultation, Becky will send you either an invitation to join her marriage crisis management program based on your individual situation, or send you a referral recommendation where you can continue working with a different therapist. Either way, you will get qualified, experienced, knowledgeable help.
Make a Marriage Crisis Consultation appointment today.
Don’t do this alone.