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Discernment Counseling

I am a Certified Discernment Counselor through the Doherty Relationship Institute. Discernment Counseling is designed for couples that are ambivalent about pursuing couples therapy. Perhaps, you've tried couples therapy previously and it didn't help. Maybe you aren't sure if the pain points of your marriage can be solved or if your partner is willing or able to make changes to improve the relationship. Not knowing whether it's possible for things to change and/or being unsure whether it's time to walk away is a scary and hopeless feeling. Discernment Counseling is a chance to slowdown, 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.
This process will help you decide whether to 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 to see if they are solvable. You will each be treated with compassion and respect no matter how you are feeling about your marriage at the moment. No bad guys and good guys. I believe in looking at all relational problems within the marital system as a whole. 
You will come in as a couple but the most important work occurs in the one-to-one conversations we will have within the session. Giving you both time to explore your thoughts and feelings as I help you look at the potential paths from all angles and provide a broader, deeper lens through understanding your relationship as a whole.  
I will respect 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.
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 danger of domestic violence

To learn more about the Discernment process 

184 East Chestnut St, Suite 1

Asheville, NC 28801

 

wellnessthroughconnections@gmail.com

828-331-1142

Tuesday 11 - 7

Wednesday 11 - 7

Thursday 10 -6 (virtual)

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