Leaning Out: 3 Ingredients Required for Discernment Counseling

DC is powerful… if you have the couple it is designed to help! As you think through past or present couples or individuals you may see the nuance here in what we define as a leaning-out spouse (LO for short.)


The 3 ingredients required for a leaning out (of course, we still need a Leaning In…) are:

Ingredient One:

  • They are seriously considering divorce but have doubts.

Ingredient Two:

  • They don’t feel like they have the energy or motivation for couples therapy (regardless of whether they’ve tried couples therapy).

Ingredient Three:

  • They have told their spouse this fact, to such a degree that when they show their spouse a description of discernment counseling, there are no surprises.

Conclusion:

DC is not something “done to” couples. It is a formal, well-screened service that both people read about, know exactly what it is, how it works, what its goals are, and sign up for.