Along with the discernment process, co-parenting coaching may be necessary to create a thoughtful plan for your future.
SESSION INFO
Fees Range: $200-$275 Session Offerings: 50-min or 80-min Not covered by insurance
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT WORKING WITH ME
Discernment therapy is not couple therapy. This is a space where you both get the clarity you need to make the next decision in your relationship. My mission is to help you turn over every stone and have an in-depth understanding of how you both arrived here. In the initial sessions, you can expect a lot of questions to help you organize your past, moments of ruptures, your responsibilities and contributions, and concerns for the future. It is important to note that I don’t take sides or keep secrets. I am fully aware of the weight of discernment therapy and respect the autonomy of each partner. My goal is to help you gain a more complex understanding about what has happened to the relationship, consider each partner’s role in the cycles and problems, and explore future possibilities.
WHAT IS DISCERNMENT THERAPY?
One of the most complicated scenarios in couple therapy involves the situation in which one or both partners express uncertainty about trying to preserve their relationship. Discernment therapy is not couple therapy because the treatment is designed to actively help you both decide on a course to pursue. Discernment therapy becomes a holding place for you to consider your options together before you prematurely follow one of those courses. The goal of discernment therapy is for each partner to have greater clarity and confidence in terms of decision-making for the future of your relationship. This comes from a more complex understanding about what has happened to your relationship, direct consideration of each person’s role in the problems, and better exploration of future possibilities. The courses that are considered throughout discernment therapy are (1) to maintain status quo—you both may decide to keep a decision on hold for now, (2) pursue dissolution of relationship or non-contested divorce, or (3) commit to six months of couple therapy with the dissolution or divorce decision off the table during that time—while clarifying that you both are not necessarily committing to your marriage for life, but to the opportunity to utilize couple therapy, after which you can make a more permanent decision.
