Discernment Counseling: How It Works, Costs, & What to Expect

What Is Discernment Counseling?

Discernment counseling helps mixed-agenda couples identify and understand viable options for their relationship.¹ Different from divorce counseling, it is specifically beneficial for clients who identify as “unsure” or “in limbo” about breaking up or getting a divorce. In some cases, it helps couples commit to staying together or revisit separation at a later date.

Discernment Counseling vs. Couples Therapy

Unlike couples therapy, discernment counseling focuses exclusively on working through ambivalence and toward acceptance. Furthermore, it does not assume that there is a right or wrong way to proceed. Couples receive clarity and confidence about where they want to take their relationship and get on the same page about their goals. Your counselor can also provide valuable tools for how to keep moving forward and appropriate referrals for ongoing care.

What’s the Goal of Discernment Counseling?

The overarching goal of discernment counseling is to support clients struggling with divorce ambivalence. It helps couples choose the next step in their relationship. Sometimes, this means ending the relationship. Other times, it means committing to trying to salvage it. Therapists usually work with clients to collaborate on a shared goal—stay married, seek a divorce, or commit to couples counseling for at least six months.

What Can Discernment Counseling Help With?

Discernment counseling helps with indecisiveness about staying together. If the couple feels like they’re at a standstill, it offers practical solutions. While it’s not about fixing the relationship, it does help couples decide whether they want to fix things. For example, if children are involved, one person might be hesitant to end the relationship. Some couples may feel a great deal of uncertainty about a marriage after an affair. Or, if it comes down to splitting significant assets, they might be worried about financial repercussions.

When to See a Discernment Counselor

Couples struggling with how to move forward can benefit from discernment therapy. If they aren’t on the same page, it can be a significant step before pursuing traditional counseling. This form of counseling doesn’t assume that divorce is a failure or that staying together is a success. It operates under the assumption that couples can feel empowered to make a collaborative decision about their future.

Limitations of Discernment Therapy

Discernment counseling is inappropriate in cases of domestic violence or imminent crisis related to suicidal thoughts, substance misuse, or child abuse. In these cases, safety becomes the priority, and both partners will typically receive a referral for individual therapy or a higher level of care.

Discernment counseling is also inappropriate when:

• Someone has already decided they plan to leave. If this happens, both may benefit from individual therapy.
• One partner is coercing or begging the other to attend. Both parties should be willing and engaged in the process.
• Couples have already committed to working on their relationship. If that’s the case, they can pursue couples therapy.
• One partner exhibits controlling behavior, such as a controlling wife or controlling husband.

Techniques Used During Discernment Counseling

Discernment counseling, like other forms of talk therapy, utilizes several techniques to accomplish the desired goals. With use of these techniques, the couple can gain clarity and understanding regarding the future of the relationship.

Individual Conversations

By meeting with only one person in the relationship, these individual conversations can help assess each person’s status in the commitment and their willingness to adjust their behaviors. The person and the therapist work to practice coping skills and set goals in line with their desired outcomes.

Relationship Assignments

Whether the couple is heading towards reconciliation or separation, the therapist will offer relationship assignments. The assignments can range from simple communication building exercises to more elaborate retreats. As with the individual conversations, these assignments will be aimed at determining and moving towards the expected outcome.

What Are the Benefits of Discernment Counseling?

Compared to other forms of counseling, discernment counseling offers some benefits that help it stand out. Some of the most significant benefits of discernment counseling include:⁴

• Improving communication skills
• Providing a forum for open discussion
• Allowing people to see their contributions to the relationship
• Greater sense of clarity with relationship
• Understanding that divorce is a likely outcome
• Working towards effective coparenting no matter the relationship status

Potential Outcomes of Discernment Counseling

There can be varying outcomes for those who seek discernment counseling:

Attending Couples Counseling to Work Through Issues

Sometimes discernment counseling can help couples realize they are both committed to working through the relationship issues and wind up going to couples counseling to learn how to manage problems and move forward together.

Get a Divorce

Discernment counseling can also lead to divorce, where one or both partners may come to the conclusion that the marriage is not something they want to continue investing in.

Maintain the Status Quo

Another outcome of discernment counseling is continued feelings of limbo and confusion about what steps they should take and what to do next, remaining in the same situation. Discernment counseling may still help them improve their communication and get a better understanding of what the problem is.

What to Expect at Your First Session

The first session is typically the longest, lasting two hours, with subsequent sessions clocking in at about 90 minutes. The first part of the session consists of a comprehensive intake. You may complete an assessment over the phone or online before meeting with your therapist, which they may review during this first session.

The intake consists of getting to know you and your partner. You will provide the relevant details of your relationship and share pertinent information about your physical health, mental health, career, housing, and support system. During this time, your therapist will review informed consent and describe how this form of counseling will work. If you have any questions about scheduling or fees, this is an excellent time to ask!

After obtaining relevant information, your counselor will meet with each of you individually. They will spend this time examining your role in the relationship, goals for moving forward, and the accountability you hold towards past mistakes. Ultimately, your counselor wants to ensure that this work is a choice. Neither partner should be forced into the process. If that’s the case, the counseling won’t work effectively.

Discernment Counseling Questions You Might Be Asked

As the therapist works to learn about the relationship and goals for the future, they will ask a range of questions.

Some questions commonly asked in discernment counseling include:

• How long have you been in the relationship?
• When did these issues first develop?
• How often do you argue?
• How would you describe your intimacy?
• How do you resolve conflicts?
• What is your goal?
• What are you willing to do to improve the relationship?
• How would you rate your listening and communication skills?
• Are your parenting styles similar or different?

How Much Does Discernment Therapy Cost?

Discernment counseling usually costs more than individual therapy; however, because it is brief, the overall treatment cost may be less. Discernment counseling fees generally range between $120-$350. Cost fluctuates based on the therapist’s location, level of expertise, and length of each session. Keep in mind that all mental health services typically cost more in geographical areas with a higher cost of living.

Insurance rarely covers couple or discernment counseling. That’s because insurance only covers treatment that meets medical necessity in treating a verified psychiatric diagnosis.³ In some cases, insurers may cover couples counseling if the reason for counseling is directly related to an individual’s psychiatric diagnosis. That said, this rarely applies to discernment counseling.

How to Find a Discernment Counselor

When looking for a discernment counselor, it’s worth asking friends and family whether they have any recommendations. Or, if you’re in individual therapy, ask your current therapist for a referral. If you’ve already met with a divorce attorney—but are still on the fence about divorce—the lawyer may have referrals, too. You can also use an online therapist directory where you can sort by location and specialty.

As mentioned, these counselors are not couples therapists, although some couples therapists provide discernment counseling services.

Who Is Able to Offer Discernment Counseling?

Mental health professionals with a qualifying license can provide discernment counseling. When searching for a prospective clinician, consider looking for someone with training from the Doherty Relationship Institute.

Questions to Ask a Discernment Counselor

When thinking about pursuing discernment counseling, consider asking your potential counselor about their experience and training, among other things.

Here are several questions to ask a discernment counselor:

• What experience do you have with discernment counseling?
• What specific training do you have with discernment counseling?
• How will you help us during this time?
• What do you expect us to do in between our sessions?
• What happens if we still can’t agree about what to do next?
• How often will you expect us to meet, and for how long?
• What usually occurs after we finish treatment?

Is Discernment Counseling Effective?

One study found that discernment counseling increased a sense of clarity. It also helped participants accept divorce as a possibility, offering a space to “say what needed to be said.”⁴ It’s also relevant to note that roughly 25% of individuals in the divorce process believe their marriage could be saved with hard work; about 30% reported interest in reconciliation.⁵

Examples of Discernment Counseling

Discernment counseling works primarily with ambivalence, disagreement about the future, feeling “out of love,” or specific issues like wanting to stay for the kids.

Here are three examples of discernment therapy:

One Partner Wants to Leave While the Other Wants to Stay

This dynamic is one of the most common reasons couples seek discernment counseling. Many times, partners feel differently about the relationship. One partner may feel detached and ready to move on. The other may feel anxious and want to make things work. Discernment therapy can help them feel more proactive about the future. If divorce is imminent, it can help both partners feel better prepared.

Feeling “Out of Love”

It’s normal for couples to feel like they have drifted apart or no longer love each other as the years pass. Discernment counseling can help them commit to try to restore their love. It can also help them decide whether ending the relationship is a better option.

Wanting to Stay for the Kids

Although divorce has become more accepted in mainstream society, many couples still hesitate to end the relationship if they have children together. Discernment counseling can tackle some of this uncertainty. Staying in an unhappy marriage can have a detrimental impact on children, so determining whether you want to commit to either working it out or ending it, and keeping your children informed about divorce, is crucial.²

History & Development of Discernment Counseling

Discernment therapy was coined by a professor by the name of Dr. William Doherty who worked at the University of Minnesota. There he worked with many divorce lawyers to understand the thought processes of individuals going through divorce and found that many people who filed for divorce were actually not sure they wanted a divorce.