As far as prerequisites go.. people usually have gone the exact other way:

make counseling.. and actually DOING WHAT THE COUNSELLOR SAYS... a prerequisite, for X number of sessions/months. If it doesnt seem to help, then do the whole separation thing. if you want to tie them together at all, that is.

Note: 1 session is useless. 2 is almost identical. You might want to chat with an MC, before you even bring this up to your wife, to see how long the MC would suggest, or whether they recommend even doing it at all.
Some places might give you a free consult just to work out the suggested length.


My current status: june 2006. Wife ran out and filed D.
Finalized Jan 11, 2010, after 12.5 years M.
3 wonderful sons caught in the middle