Divorce Discernment Counseling

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Divorce Discernment Counseling
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• Discernment counseling is an approach tailored to
  specifically work with couples in the process of
  considering the future of their relationship.  
  Approximately 30 of couples who enter into
  couples therapy are qualified as mixed agenda
  couples, meaning there is one partner leaning
  out of the relationship, considering moving
  forward with separation or divorce the other
  leaning in, meaning they are hoping to save and
  strengthen their relationship. 

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• Of couples that are already proceeding forward
  with the divorce process, approximately 40 are
  deemed mixed agenda couples.  This creates a
  difficult starting point for couples therapy and
  can often mean that couples counseling falls flat
  before it can get to the root cause of the
  problems between partners.

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• The average legal cost for divorce is 15,000.
   Paired with emotional distress, impact on
  children, financial constraints, and the social
  implications, it is important to make an informed
  choice about this important relationship.  The
  goal of discernment counseling is to provide a
  structured, brief approach to mixed agenda
  couples, in which partners gain clarity and
  confidence on which path to choose. 

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• Partners utilize sessions to explore their
  relationship history, emotional injuries, whether
  they believe their problems are solvable, the
  impacts on their life and children, their role in
  getting to this place in their marriage and their
  emotional needs.  The role of the therapist is as
  a facilitator and processor, utilizing a
  nonjudgmental stance in the room, and working
  with each partner to explore their own longings,
  needs, roles, and injuries in the relationships.  

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• We support clients to gain confidence in their
  decision to either move forward with couples
  therapy, divorce, or remain in the marriage.  
  Discernment Counseling can also be a helpful
  starting point for couples that are unsure if
  they want to commit to couples therapy.  Couples
  and therapists can often struggle to gain
  traction in session f they are feeling
  protective, ambivalent or lack clear goals. 

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• Once a couple feels their issues are solvable and
  they want to make the transition to couples
  therapy, we provide referrals to couples
  therapists that are trained and skilled in your
  particular areas of need.

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• Separation and divorce are a huge transition for
  all parties involved.  Individual therapy offers
  support with grieving the loss of the
  relationship and future plans coping with
  distress, anger, depression, anxiety, financial
  constraints, and exploring the impact on how you
  view your self.  

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• If couples decide to divorce, the focus shifts to
  providing support to the children.  Parents can
  utilize services to transition from a couple to
  co-parenting individuals.  We provide
  Co-Parenting and Family Therapy services to
  facilitate secure and stable family connections
  going forward. Research shows that childrens
  ability to cope with divorce tends to reflect and
  follow the parents ability to cope.

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• Children look to their primary secure attachment
  figures in their life for guidance through
  distress.  Family Therapy can be an  important
  tool in providing a safe space for partners as
  well as for children to explore their
  difficulties with navigating this new world. 

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• http//www.thecenterforconnection.com/