Discernment counseling, unlike the usual couples therapy that works on repairing and strengthening the relationship, is a short-term, structured process that helps partners decide whether to stay the course, separate, or commit to deeper couples therapy.

Without a healthy perspective, couples risk making decisions out of panic, guilt, anger, or exhaustion. Discernment counseling is designed to slow the process down, not to save or end a relationship, but to help each person gain a clearer view of what has happened and what is possible.

Disagreement itself isn't harmful to relationships. In fact, the absence of conflict often signals disengagement or suppressed feelings. The real danger lies in how we express our differences. After helping couples transform destructive patterns into constructive conversations, I've identified key practices that allow partners to disagree without doing damage.