FIND CLARITY. FEEL HEARD. MOVE FORWARD WITH CONFIDENCE.
Are you and your partner hitting a crossroads? One of you may be thinking about leaving the relationship, while the other wants to work things out. You’re stuck in limbo, unsure of what to do next but certain that something needs to change.
You’re not alone and you don’t have to make this decision in the dark.
At The Marriage Restoration Project, we offer discernment therapy, a short-term structured approach specifically designed for mixed-agenda couples. Whether you’re leaning out or leaning in, this unique process will help you both explore your options with honesty, compassion and the expert guidance of a licensed discernment therapy counselor.
WHAT IS DISCERNMENT THERAPY?
Discernment counseling, also known as ‘discernment therapy,’ is not traditional couples therapy. It’s not about fixing the relationship right away or pushing either partner towards a decision. Instead, it’s about gaining clarity and confidence in the path ahead, whether that means working towards reconciliation or moving towards separation with mutual respect.
This process typically lasts about one to five sessions and is designed for couples where one partner is uncertain about staying in the relationship, while the other is committed to trying. Discernment therapy is a place to pause, reflect and decide, with guidance, about what comes next.
IS DISCERNMENT COUNSELING RIGHT FOR YOU?
If you’re wondering whether discernment therapy is right for you, we’re happy to help. This approach is especially useful if:
- One of you is seriously considering divorce or separation
- The other is hoping to save the relationship
- You’re unsure of whether traditional couples therapy is appropriate
- You’ve tried counseling before but it didn’t address your mixed agendas
- You want to avoid rushed decisions and future regret
Discernment counseling gives both partners equal space to explore their feelings, perspectives and hopes. It’s not about blame, but rather about understanding what brought you here and where you might go from here.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN A SESSION
Each discernment session is led by a licensed therapist trained in this unique method. Sessions typically include individual time with the therapist to explore your personal thoughts, fears and goals as well as joint conversations to share insights and listen with empathy. Additionally, these sessions will explore three potential paths:
- stay the same,
- separate or divorce,
- commit to a period of couples therapy to repair the relationship.
WHY CHOOSE THE MARRIAGE RESTORATION PROJECT?
At The Marriage Restoration Project, our discernment counseling is guided by the same no-blame, no-shame philosophy that shapes our marriage intensives and Imago therapy-based approach.
You’ll be met with empathy, not judgment. Our founder, Rabbi Shlomo Slatkin, a licensed couples therapist, has helped hundreds of couples navigate intense emotional crossroads, offering calm, clarity and structure even in times of deep uncertainty.
Whether you choose to stay or to part ways, we’ll help you do it with understanding, integrity and mutual respect. We’re happy to offer discernment counseling in Maryland and online for couples nationwide.
DISCERNMENT COUNSELING FAQS
WHAT IS A DISCERNMENT COUNSELOR?
A discernment counselor is a licensed therapist trained to work with couples who are ambivalent or divided about the future of their relationship. Their goal is to help each partner reflect and decide on what to do next, without any judgment or pressure.
HOW IS DISCERNMENT COUNSELING DIFFERENT FROM COUPLES THERAPY?
Unlike traditional couples therapy, discernment counseling is not about solving relationship problems. It’s about what’s happening, how each partner feels and whether there’s a shared commitment to try repairing the relationship.
HOW MANY SESSIONS DOES IT TAKE?
Discernment therapy is short-term by design, usually lasting one to five sessions. The purpose is to come to a clear decision about your relationship path, not to start intensive healing work, although that can follow.
CAN WE DO THIS EVEN IF WE’RE NOT SURE WE WANT TO STAY TOGETHER?
Yes, that’s exactly who discernment therapy is for! Mixed-agenda couples, where one person is leaning in and the other is leaning out, often feel left out of traditional counseling. This process meets you where you are.
IS DISCERNMENT COUNSELING NEAR ME?
If you’re in Maryland, we offer in-person discernment therapy sessions in our offices. We also provide discernment therapy online so couples across the US can access the support that they need from home.
SCHEDULE YOU DISCERNMENT SESSION TODAY
If you’re stuck between staying and leaving, discernment counseling can help you both take a breath, look at the bigger picture and move forward with clarity, whether that means you do so together or apart. You don’t have to rush, you don’t have to fight and you don’t have to do it alone.
Book your first session with a licensed discernment counselor today and take the first step toward clarity, healing and peace of mind.
