By Michael Moran

Copyright manchestereveningnews

Experienced divorce solicitor Sheela Mackintosh-Stewart, who doubles as a relationship and divorce coach, reveals she has witnessed “countless hostile couples” throughout her three decades in practice. She identifies several crucial indicators that a marriage cannot be rescued – including two telling phrases that signal the end is near. Speaking to the Daily Mail , she said: “I can always spot – within a few minutes – which marriage can be saved and which is heading for divorce.” She outlined how she typically begins consultations by enquiring what couples hope to accomplish from their meeting, with their answers proving highly revealing. Sheela elaborates: “If the response from one partner is: ‘I can’t see a future’ or ‘I want to leave with a timeline of moving out’ then, no matter how much the other person wants to save it, the relationship is over.” Another critical warning sign that a partnership is doomed, according to Sheela, occurs when couples find it difficult to offer praise about one another. She notes that a major red flag emerges when individuals respond to her requests for compliments by mentioning qualities they previously appreciated, rather than current positive attributes. Sheela maintains she can instantly detect whether a couple feels content or joyful in each other’s presence: “It shows in tone, eye contact and body language,” she explains. Among these warning signs is sarcasm; eye-rolling, insults or relentless fault-finding – regardless of whether it’s disguised as humour. She explains: “In the mind of the partner being cruel, this means the frame has shifted from ‘we have a problem’ to ‘you are the problem’. From here, toxic resentment can only start to pile up.” Petty behaviour or score-keeping is another red flag, according to Sheela. If someone is keeping tally of how many times their partner has taken out the rubbish, for instance, that’s an indication that the relationship has become fatally toxic. Even without verbal communication, couples can sometimes reveal hints about the state of their relationship. Sheela mentions that before sessions, she positions two chairs quite close together and invites the quarrelling couple to sit. Their body language, she says, is very telling: “If one or both look uncomfortable or subconsciously find themselves trying to nudge the chairs apart – even by a few inches – I know.”