IN-PERSON IN DALLAS-FORT WORTH & ONLINE ACROSS TEXAS
Couples on the Brink
Discernment Counseling
Crossroads and Clarity
Traditional couples therapy doesn’t work when one partner is leaning out and the other is leaning in.
Are You Considering Divorce?
If you or your spouse is 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 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. Ultimately, this process aims to provide an urgent intervention of clarity, hope, and understanding to couples in crisis.
As a Discernment Counselor, I will help you decide whether to try to restore your marriage to health, move toward divorce, or take a time out and decide later.
I am here to help you be as comfortable as possible with whatever decision you are deciding to make.
The goal is for you to gain clarity and confidence about a direction for your marriage based on a deeper understanding of the problems as well as what is possible for the future of your marriage.
Decide How to Move Forward Together
This specialized, short-term protocol (1-5 sessions) helps you find clarity and confidence about how to move forward. There is a maximum of 5 counseling sessions in the protocol. The first session is usually 2 hours and the subsequent sessions are 1.5 or 2 hours.
After the couple familiarizes themselves with the concept and purpose of Discernment Counseling, it is required that each partner contact me individually for a complimentary 20 minute phone screen to confirm that you do fit the requirements for this unique service.
The Benefits of Discernment Counseling:
Supports both emotional states: Holds the leaning-in partner steady while supporting the leaning-out partner in deciding whether to recommit.
Provides structure: Offers a predictable process for exploring options and making informed decisions about the future.
Protects against pressure: Emphasizes the importance of making informed choices free from external pressure or bias.
Built for past setbacks: Designed for couples still needing direction after having already tried couples therapy where one partner wasn't fully invested.
Prevents further discouragement: Avoids keeping an ambivalent partner in a loop of increased criticism and fighting at home.
Co-creating a space: building a bridge to hope for what feels impossible at this time.
The goal is not to solve your marital problems right now but to see if they are solvable.
How the Sessions Work:
Each of you will be treated with compassion and respect no matter how you are feeling about your marriage at the moment. No bad guys and good guys.
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.
A Discernment Counselor respects 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.
Still Have Questions?
Different than traditional models, in Discernment Counseling the ethical question presents itself clearly: What do people owe each other when they are in marital distress, when joy and connection have been replaced by grief and suffering?
Ultimately, our goal is not just to salvage marriages but to facilitate genuine growth and transformation. While the path ahead may be fraught with challenges, we remain dedicated in our commitment to helping couples navigate the stormy seas of uncertainty. With this specialized approach and unwavering support, no relationship is beyond redemption. Trust in the process, and together, we can chart a course toward your needs for healing.