Couples on the Brink
Finding clarity when one of you isn’t sure.
When a relationship reaches a crossroads, it’s common for one partner to want to work on things while the other feels uncertain — unsure whether there’s enough left to repair.
Discernment Counseling is a short-term, structured process designed for couples who feel stuck in ambivalence. It’s not traditional couples therapy. Instead, it’s a space to slow down, reflect, and understand what has happened in the relationship — and what each of you truly wants moving forward.
The Purpose
Rather than rushing into a decision or continuing painful cycles, Discernment Counseling helps you:
Gain clarity and confidence about your next steps
Understand each partner’s contributions to the current dynamic
Honor both the desire for change and the need for honesty
Decide whether to commit to repair or separate with integrity
This process is for couples who are on the brink — when one partner is leaning out, and the other is leaning in. The goal is not to fix the relationship right now, but to explore whether it’s possible and meaningful to try.
What to Expect
Short-term commitment: 1–5 sessions (usually 90 minutes each)
Individual and joint conversations: You’ll meet together and separately within each session
A non-judgmental approach: My role is to help each of you explore your own clarity — not to take sides or push an outcome
Together, we’ll look at what has brought you to this point, how each of you has tried to address it, and what patterns have kept you from reconnecting. From there, you’ll choose one of three paths:
Stay the course for now,
Separate with greater understanding, or
Commit to couples therapy for six months to actively rebuild.
A NARM-Aligned Approach
This work centers curiosity over judgment and autonomy over pressure. We explore the deeper patterns beneath the current crisis — how attachment, shame, and protective strategies shape your responses — so that whatever path you choose, it’s grounded in honesty and self-leadership.
Who It’s For
Discernment Counseling may be right for you if:
You’re considering separation or divorce but aren’t yet certain.
One of you is willing to work on the relationship and the other is unsure.
You’ve tried therapy before, but it felt premature or unbalanced.
You want to make the best decision possible for yourself, your partner, and your family.
This process is not suitable when there is ongoing domestic violence, coercion, or fear-based control.
The Outcome
By the end of this process, couples often describe feeling more grounded and less reactive — clearer about what they want and why.
Whether you choose to part ways or begin deeper repair work, you’ll do so with more awareness, integrity, and compassion.
Discernment Counseling:
Initial 30 minute phone call with each partner individually – zero cost
Session 1 (120 minutes) $500
Sessions 2-5 as needed (90 minutes) $350 each