Discernment Counselling
Discernment counselling is a brief form of counselling designed for couples who are unsure if they want to continue their relationship. In discernment counselling, couples consider three possible options:
Although this type of counselling can be helpful for many couples, it is not appropriate for couples in which one person has already made the decision to end the relationship and is only seeking counselling because they want the other person to accept it, or family violence is present, or both people are not willing to participate without coercion.
- ending the relationship,
- establishing a 6-month period in which both partners commit to making the maximum effort to save the relationship (often while participating in couples therapy), or
- postponing the decision.
Although this type of counselling can be helpful for many couples, it is not appropriate for couples in which one person has already made the decision to end the relationship and is only seeking counselling because they want the other person to accept it, or family violence is present, or both people are not willing to participate without coercion.