Discernment Counseling

A woman and a man sitting on a park bench, both with their hands on their heads, appearing upset or stressed.

Guidance for when you’re not sure whether to work on your relationship—or part ways.

Not all couples arrive in therapy with the same hopes. One may feel ready to leave the relationship; the other may want to save it. This mismatch can make traditional couples therapy feel frustrating—or even counterproductive. Discernment Counseling offers clarity, not pressure, by helping each partner reflect and decide the next step.

A person with a brown watch is reaching out to another person with a diamond engagement ring on their finger, with a green outdoor background.

What is Discernment Counseling?

Discernment Counseling is not traditional couples therapy.
It’s a short-term model (1–5 sessions) developed for couples unsure about their future. Sessions explore what has happened, each partner’s role, and what each wants moving forward—without committing to solutions yet.

Is it right for you?

Discernment Counseling is helpful when:

  • One partner is “leaning out” while the other is “leaning in”

  • Divorce or separation is being considered but not finalized

  • You want clarity before deciding your next step

  • Traditional couples therapy doesn’t feel like the right fit—yet

It is not recommended for couples dealing with active abuse, untreated addiction, or a partner who has already fully decided to end the relationship.

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  • Sessions are 90 minutes

  • Individual conversations plus joint reflection

  • Focus on clarity, not blame

  • Support in deciding one of three paths:

    1. Continue as-is

    2. Separate/divorce

    3. Commit to six months of couples therapy with divorce off the table

What to Expect

Two people walking along a gravel trail beside a river with mountains and a partly cloudy sky in the background.
A woman with curly dark hair, glasses, and wearing a pearl necklace and a black top, smiling outdoors with green trees in the background.

My role as a Certified Discernment Counselor is to hold space for both partners—to help you slow down, reflect deeply, and make a decision with which you can feel at peace.