Discernment Counseling
If divorce is on the table, discernment counseling can help you come to healthier decisions.
If you or your partner are unsure whether to stay in the relationship or perhaps go your separate ways, discernment counseling may be an appropriate option.
Discernment Counseling - Making Decisions From A Healthier Place
Discernment counselors assist couples that are ambivalent about staying married or getting divorced. This can be a difficult phase for a couple who has reached a point where divorce is on the table. It can occur where one or both individuals may be struggling with the relationship and need help deciding on whether they should continue through with a divorce or if there is any way the relationship can be salvaged. It is not uncommon for one person to be “leaning out” while the other is “leaning in.” One may feel that couples therapy can help, while the other is nearly checked out. This can present some challenges to a happy reunion, but discernment counseling can still be an incredibly valuable process even if the couple differs in their desire to remain together.
Relationships usually share a significant amount of care and love. In most cases, both parties may have placed a considerable amount of time and effort into their relationships. However, once the relationship reaches the point where a divorce is under consideration, the marriage is usually under a significant amount of stress whether the individuals are aware of it or not. Stress and anxiety in a relationship do not always appear as frustration or problems in communication, but can sometimes present as discontentment, depression, or increasing distance between partners. In any event, this can be a difficult stage for couples since they may be troubled by events or persisting emotions which have led them to consider terminating the relationship. This can happen following years of conflict, after emotional or value differences change, or after a single event such as an unexpected affair has come to light.
The resulting fallout may lead one or both individuals to remain distressed about losing their relationship. In addition, concerns regarding how their next steps may affect their children, what parenting arrangements may need to be defined, what financial decisions may need to be made, and what are the living arrangements they may need to consider during this process can weigh heavily on the relationship. Couples often rush to make these decisions from unhealthy or painful emotional spaces. They often fail to consider the extended impact their emotionally-driven decisions may have in the long term or even how their decisions may be rooted over several psychological factors which may lead them to preemptively terminate a union before a more grounded decision process can take place.
Make conscious decisions, not emotional ones.
Discernment therapy helps you manage uncertainties and reach viable solutions or conclusions.
Call Your Discernment Counselor Before Your Lawyer
Once a divorce is under consideration, most couples run to their respective family attorneys to gain a perspective or advice on a very big, and often permanent decision. Couples who place such a large decision on a mediator or on someone who will try to fight for them on their behalf may be jumping too far ahead in their process. We certainly support legal counseling, but we strongly recommend that couples explore a discernment process before any final decisions are made. This could save a struggling couple a significant amount of costs, heartache, and stress.
Even if the couple decides to move ahead with a divorce, many individuals later struggle with co-parenting or moving into healthy new relationships. Data on second and third marriages suggests that new marriages fare significantly worse than their first marriage. This may suggest that while the problems may currently seem overwhelming, exploring a reunion or a healthier split may leave individuals better prepared to manage conflict in the future. As relational beings, we tend to work in patterns and can often harbor anger, resentment, or mistrust in future relationships if these feelings are not explored. This is neither caring for your own process nor for a new individual with whom you may want to eventually carry a relationship.
Are you and your partner in need of Discernment Counseling? Contact Us!
Love Discovery Institute offers Discernment Counseling in a safe and non-judgmental environment. In Discernment Counseling, you do not have to be sure if you want to stay in the marriage or not and there is no pressure to make a specific decision. However, through the process, you and your partner will gain more clarity and define what is best for you both or your family from a healthier place. Talk with one of our experienced discernment therapists, set up your first appointment, and begin your journey with us. We will help you in making confident choices in your marriage or relationship. We’re here to support you and create the best life possible.
If you are ready to get started with discernment counseling, make an appointment with any of our therapists today.
Still unsure if discernment counseling is for you? Call us at 305-605-LOVE for a free consultation.
