NEW FIGURES SHOW there was a significant increase in the number of couples seeking marriage counselling in the last three years, citing stress, communication trouble and financial difficulties as some of the main problems in relationships.

Catholic counselling service ACCORD said today that some 6,536 couples used the service in 2012 with the number of counselling hours rising from 43,627 in 2010 to 50,422 in 2012.

The figures show that 58 per cent of individuals presenting to ACCORD in 2012 rated financial difficulties as a problem, a two per cent increase on last year.

Levels of stress and anxiety reported by clients remained high at 82 per cent but have decreased steadily from 2010 when they reached 87 per cent.

Reports of communication troubles between couples have risen i the last three years with 78 per cent reporting criticism and insults and 82 per cent saying their spouse did not listen to them or ignored them.

Emotional abuse in marriages is on the riseat 59 per cent and levels of depression remained the same at 51 per cent.

Reports of physical violence in relationships have shown a decrease over the three year period ranging from 19 per cent in 2010 to 14 per cent in 2011 and to 13 per cent in 2012.

Concerns about separation have risen over the period with the number of clients reporting infidelity as a problem increasing about 2 per cent since 2010.

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