Discernment Counseling

The Process

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Discernment Counseling really functions more like an assessment. It’s typically more brief than our other counseling services (5 sessions is the average) and is geared specifically towards “mixed agenda” couples—aka couples in which one person wants in and the other wants out. 

 

The goal of this service is to get the couple on the same page, regardless of what that looks like in the end. Its approach is knowledge and education-based. We’ll look at what steps you’ve already taken, what the different scenarios would look like, what you’re each leaning towards and why etc. At the end of this path, the goal is that you both be in agreement to either work on your relationship or formally separate. 

 

 

Why It’s Beneficial

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 For couples that can’t agree on what they want for their future, Discernment Counseling is far more helpful than Couples Counseling. The work you’ll do with your counselor in these sessions will really help you suss out whether you’re committed to making the relationship work or not. 

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Who You’ll Be Working With

  

 Tim Kemery, LCSW & Shawnta Gardener, LPC both provide this service. They each have extensive experience in assessment and interpersonal relationship counseling. 

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Further Reading 

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• Should You Stay or Should You Go? Discernment Counseling Can Help You Decide
  A great primer on what discernment counseling is and how to determine if it’s the right step for you as a couple.

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• Making The Decision: How Discernment Counseling Can Help You
  What’s the difference between marriage counseling and discernment counseling and which one do you really need? This thorough article will lead you through the process of both and help you identify the right path forward.

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• Are You Really Ready for Couples Therapy?
  A couple 19 years into their relationship has hit rocky times. Their counselor lays out how she worked with them to process their issues and how discernment counseling played a part in the process. 

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