Discernment Counseling
If you or your spouse are considering divorce or ending a deeply committed partnership but are not completely sure that’s the best path, you are in a tough spot. And Discernment Counseling is designed for you. It’s a chance to slowdown, take a breath, and look at your options.
Discernment Counseling is a new way of helping couples where one person is “leaning out” of the relationship—and not sure that regular couples therapy would help--and the other is "leaning in”—that is, interested in rebuilding the relationship. I will help you decide whether to try to restore your relationship to health, move toward divorce or break-up, or take a time out and decide later.
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 relationship 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 relationship at the moment. No bad or good person in this situation.
You will come in as a couple but the most important work occurs in the one-to-one conversations with the me. Why? Because you are starting out in different places. 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 five-7 counseling sessions. The first session is usually two hours and the subsequent are 1.5 or 2 hours.
Discernment Counseling is not Suited for these situations:
-
When one spouse has already made a final decision to divorce or break-up
-
When one spouse is coercing the other to participate
-
When there is danger of domestic violence
Times and Cost: Because discernment counseling sessions are 1.5 to 2 hours, with a scheduled break, and costs range from $225 to $250. I am always open to a conversation about a sliding scale or payment plan.
I offer times for discernment counseling on Wednesday mornings, Thursday mornings- midday/early afternoon and occasional Friday mornings-midday.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any further questions!
