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Discernment Counseling for couples on the brink | Greensboro, NC
In-Person or Online Discernment Therapists
Are you on the brink of Letting go?
What Is Discernment Counseling For Couples On The Brink Of Divorce?
Considering divorce 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 slow down, take a breath, and look at your options for your marriage.
Discernment counseling is a structured process designed to help couples who are on the brink of divorce decide whether to try and repair their relationship or move forward with a divorce. It is a short-term, goal-oriented form of counseling that focuses on helping couples explore their options and make a decision about the future of their relationship.
Discernment counseling is different from traditional couples therapy, which is focused on helping couples resolve conflicts and improve their communication and relationship skills. In discernment counseling, the goal is not to try to fix the relationship, but rather to help couples understand their options and make a decision about whether they want to pursue further therapy or end the relationship.
During discernment counseling, the counselor works with the couple to help them clarify their thoughts and feelings about their relationship and explore the pros and cons of staying together or separating. The therapist may also provide education about the process of divorce and the impact it can have on the couple and their family.
Discernment counseling is typically short-term, with most couples completing the process in 1-5 sessions. It can be an effective way for couples to explore their options and make a decision about the future of their relationship, whether that be to work on repairing the relationship or to move forward with a divorce.
Is Discernment Counseling Right For Us?
Considering divorce is a weighty and emotionally intense proposition. You want to feel confident that it’s the best decision for you, your relationship, and your family. Is it really the end or is it a tough patch that can be fixed? These are valid questions.
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.
What is and is NOT discernment counseling's goal?
The counselor will help you discern whether to do one of the following:
- try to restore your marriage to health,
- move toward divorce, 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 marital problems but rather to see whether they are solvable. You will each be treated with compassion and respect regardless of how you feel about your marriage at the moment. No bad guys and good guys.
Most relationships don’t end because they’re terrible; most relationships end because people want a better one. You’re not alone.
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.
The counselor respects your reasons for divorce while trying to open up the possibility of restoring the marriage to health.
The counselor emphasizes 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.
How Many Sessions?
A maximum of five (5) sessions. The first session is usually 2 hours and the subsequent sessions are 1.5 or 2 hours.
Discernment Counseling Isn't For Everyone
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 a danger of domestic violence
A Helpful Infographic
