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First Session When The Couple Is Already Separated

DC 2025 First Session When The Couple Is Already Separated

Eligibility for Discernment Counseling:

Couples who are already separated can be good candidates for discernment counseling.
The key is to have a leaning in (LI) spouse who wants to revive the marriage and a leaning out (LO) spouse who is considering divorce but is not yet certain.

Roles of the Spouses:

The LI spouse wants to get back together and is open to couples therapy.
The LO spouse is leaning towards separation ending in divorce but is not fully committed to that decision.

Discernment Goals:

The couple will discern whether to pursue divorce (Path Two) or couples therapy (Path Three).
An additional option for the LO spouse is to remain separated but not divorce (Path One).

Suitability for Discernment Counseling:

As long as there is a LI spouse willing to work on the marriage and a LO spouse who is ambivalent about divorce, the couple is a suitable candidate for discernment counseling.
The process will help them explore their options and make informed decisions about the future of their relationship.

Conclusion:

Discernment counseling can be highly effective for separated couples where one spouse is leaning in and the other is leaning out. By providing a structured process to explore their options, discernment counseling helps couples make informed decisions about whether to pursue divorce, couples therapy, or remaining separated without divorcing.

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