Discernment Counseling
When Divorce is on the Table
If you or your spouse are considering divorce but are not completely sure that’s the best path, you are in a tough spot.
Discernment Counseling is designed for you.
It’s a chance to slowdown, take a breath, and look at your options for your marriage.
Discernment Counseling is a new way of helping couples where one person is “leaning out” of the relationship—and not sure that regular marriage counseling would help--and the other is "leaning in”—that is, interested in rebuilding the marriage.
My job as the counselor is to help you decide whether to try to restore your marriage to health, move toward divorce, or take a time out and decide later.
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“The goal is for you to gain clarity and confidence about a direction, based on a deeper understanding of your relationship and its possibilities for the future.”
The goal is not to solve your marital problems but to see if they are solvable. You will each be treated with compassion and respect no matter how you are feeling about your marriage at the moment.
No bad guys and good guys.
What to Expect
You will come in as a couple but the most important work occurs in the one-to-one conversations with the counselor.
Why? Because you are starting out in different places.
My stance:
I respect your reasons for divorce while trying to open up the possibility of restoring the marriage to health.
I will emphasize the importance of each of you seeing your own contributions to the problems and the possible solutions.
This will be useful in future relationships even if this one ends.
Number of Sessions: A maximum of 5 counseling sessions.
You will each do a separate free 20-30 minute phone screening to see if your situation is suitable for discernment counseling
If discernment counseling is the right fit for your situation
First Session
2 Hours
$300
Sessions 2 thru 5
1.5 - 2 hours
$225-$300
*Sliding Scale available. Not eligible for OON Benefits
Each session is structured
Couple together
One partner individually
Couple together for a summary
Other partner individually
Couple together for a summary and next steps
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Discernment Counseling is not suited for these situations:
When one spouse has already made a final decision to divorce
When one spouse is coercing the other to participate
When there is danger of domestic violence