Discernment Counseling
One of you may be halfway out the door. The other may be holding on.
Not every couple arrives with a problem to solve. Some arrive at a crossroads. Discernment counseling makes room for both leaning out and leaning in, so you can choose a path with clarity and confidence.
When you're in limbo, the last thing you want is to stay there.
What is discernment counseling?
A short-term, structured space for couples on the brink, focused on one thing: finding clarity. Arriving at a decision made by reflection rather than by pressure, confusion, or exhaustion.
A focused, supportive way to find clarity and confidence about your next steps. It has a beginning, a middle, and an end.
It is not couples therapy, and it is not a long-term commitment. It is not about forcing a decision, and it is not about pushing you to stay together.
How the sessions work
Three steps, at whatever pace you need. Most of the work happens in individual conversations, one of you at a time, which is what makes it possible to speak freely.
You commit to one session at a time, up to five, and only as many as you need to gain confidence and clarity.
Figure out what brought you here
We meet together first, then separately, so each of you can say how you are experiencing the relationship without managing the other's reaction. This step is about slowing down and beginning to reflect on what led here, with no pressure to decide anything yet.
Look deeper, and explore options
Mostly one-to-one, we look at the patterns in your relationship and the part each of you has played, to understand more fully what happened. Then we take each of the three paths in turn, staying long enough with each one to picture what it would actually mean for you, so the decision is a deliberate one rather than a default. We come back together at the end of each session.
Choose a direction to commit to
We work toward clarity about a path forward, and toward being able to commit to it, whichever of the three it turns out to be.
Three paths to explore
All three are real outcomes here. What I aim for is that whichever one you land on, you get there by thinking it through rather than by running out of energy.
If you're the one who wants this
You don't need your partner to be sure before you reach out. Plenty of people make this call on their own, hoping the other will come. A conversation with Jaclyn costs nothing and commits neither of you to anything.