Our therapist saw us together and then individually. She met with me one on one after meeting with him one on one. Essentially, she said “What do you need from me in our next and last joint session together? Because at this point I can no longer facilitate couples therapy and have to pivot toward being an advocate for you.” I told her I need help explaining I need to separate from him. I won’t go into detail as to what’s gone on in this post as it has some triggering subject matter involving abuse. He’s said it won’t happen again, but the emotional and physical disconnect has gone too far, and even if we stayed together I would no longer be happy and I would no longer be able to offer him happiness as a partner. I am hoping he can learn to be better from this. Find a partner who could love him in a way I can’t anymore. We have two young daughters (3 and 7) and the scariest part is I don’t want them to feel this huge upheaval in their lives. I’ve found a little house for us right down the street. I could literally walk to it in less than five minutes. So they’ll always be close to both of us even though we’re in separate houses. I plan to explain as straightforwardly as I can without giving them too much detail. Answering questions. Be gentle with them and their reactions. I just want everything to be okay even though I know it’s going to change everything. Thanks for reading/listening, Reddit. Please give me the strength I need to do this.