Discernment Counseling is an approach to couple’s counseling to assist partners in figuring out if they want to continue their relationship. It recognizes that many couples seek counseling because they are close to separating. Counselors use this knowledge to design interventions and help the couple decide if they should stay together.
Counselors will start by asking plenty of questions in the initial assessment, such as your thoughts about the relationship, your strengths as a couple, common themes in disagreements, if children are involved, and the relationship history. After this assessment, your counselor will speak with you to determine whether there are solvable issues within the relationship. They talk to you about these things together and separately.
Discernment Counseling’s goal isn’t to fix relationship issues or solve problems but to discern whether there are issues that have the potential to be solved and if each partner deems them worthy of working through.
Discernment Counseling usually only lasts a couple of sessions. If couples choose to stay together, they might enter couples therapy after Discernment Counseling to engage in a more long-term process.
This type of therapy can provide a foundation of relational strengths for a couple, making couple’s counseling easier. If couples choose to separate, Discernment Counseling can facilitate that process.
Therapists Who Specialize in Using Discernment Counseling
You're going through a relationship crisis, feeling confused about how to get on the same page, or frustrated with the state of your connection. You remember when things were different, and you're ready to make changes that will get you on the path to the future you hope to have, together. We know how to help! We offer expert online therapy for couples in New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, and...
Things in your relationship aren't going well. You're struggling, and you're not sure how to fix it. You don't want to get divorced, but you don't think you can do this anymore. If something in your relationship isn't working, you're in the right place. Whether you're fighting all the time or simply drifting apart, I can help. Relationships are hard. Everyone knows that. But change is really ha...
The quest to live authentically is challenging but ultimately transformative. With hard work and supportive professional guidance, clients have the opportunity to examine persistent, troubling patterns without judgment or shame, and in doing so create space for growth and possibility. I work with clients age 6 to end of life -- individuals, partners, and families -- to explore individual and...
The quest to live authentically is challenging but ultimately transformative. With hard work and supportive professional guidance, clients have the opportunity to examine persistent, troubling patterns without judgment or shame, and in doing so create space for growth and possibility. I work with clients age 6 to end of life -- individuals, partners, and families -- to explore individual and...
You are considering divorce and fear how it will affect your children. Or you're divorced and met someone and want to blend your families, but are worried about the difficulties that blending brings. These family transitions are full of significant challenges such as grief over the breakup of the family, confusion over stepparent roles and responsibilities, hostile co-parenting relationships,...
As a relationship therapist, I am passionate and effective in strengthening couples, supporting families, and helping individuals connect. With care and compassion, I can help you and your partner calm conflict, re-establish trust, increase friendship & intimacy, deal with past trauma, heal from betrayal. For relationship distress, together we create the change needed to relate in positive ways...
If your family or relationship is struggling, if you are feeling depressed or anxious, or if you are worried about your child's well-being, I am here to help. I specialize in helping couples, families, children/adolescents, as well as individuals. My areas of expertise include marital concerns, separation and divorce, parent-child relationships, blended families, self-esteem, depression, and...
I work with all types of couples to resolve conflict and increase emotional and physical intimacy in relationships. Clients who contact my practice are usually seeking counseling because they are struggling with a disconnected relationship, working toward healing after betrayal, having sexual difficulties, or contemplating separation. Through the use of research-supported approaches to couple...
I AM NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS> The pandemic has brought even more stress to the complexity of relationships. Is yours to the breaking point, exposing areas already tender? Are you feeling your partner leaning out when you want in? Is everything happening too fast? Did you know there is a short-term (1-5 sessions), compassionate, targeted and researched intervention for couples like y...
