Discernment Counseling

Discernment Counseling is a clinical approach to working with “mixed agenda” couples where one partner is leaning out of the relationship (considering divorce and ambivalent about couples therapy) and the other is leaning in (wants to preserve the relationship and try couples therapy).

Discernment Counseling is short term and the focus is not on solving relationship problems but on seeing if they could potentially be solved. The methodology frames issues from the very first session so each partner can begin to understand their individual contributions to the relationship issues.

Discernment Counseling helps people decide whether to maintain the status quo, work on the relationship or separate. The work concludes with support regardless of the choice made.

Stephanie Kuiack was trained by William Doherty, the founder of Discernment Counseling, through the Doherty Relationship Institute at University of Minnesota. Stephanie was one of the first therapists in Ontario to be listed on the Institute’s roster of qualified Discernment counselors.