Stay or Go (discernment) Counseling in Decatur, Georgia
Stay or Go (Discernment) Counseling
If you or your spouse are considering divorce, it is a difficult time in your marriage. If one of you wants to save the marriage but the other isn’t so sure, it can be hard to gain momentum in any direction. Stay or Go Counseling is designed for you. Also known as Discernment Counseling, it’s a chance to take some time to look at the options for your marriage. (Don’t be thrown by the words “marriage” and “divorce.” This is shorthand to include anyone in a committed relationship.)
Discernment counseling will help you decide whether to:
- try to restore your marriage to health
- move towards divorce, or
- take a time out and decide later
The goal is for you to gain clarity and confidence about a direction, based on a deeper understanding of your relationship and its possibilities for the future. The goal is not to solve your marital problems but to see if they are solvable and if you both want to do what it will take to solve them.
You will each be treated with compassion and respect no matter how you are feeling about your marriage at the moment. There are no bad guys and good guys.
You will come in as a couple, but the most important work occurs in one-to-one conversations with the counselor. Why? Because you are starting out in different places.
The counselor respects the reasons for divorce while opening up the possibility of restoring the marriage to health. The counselor also emphasizes the importance of each of you seeing your own contributions to the problems and the possible solutions. This will be useful in future relationships, even if this one ends.
Discernment Counseling is NOT marriage counseling. It is brief and time limited, usually between 1 and 5 sessions, and it helps you decide if you want to spend the money and effort on marriage counseling. The first session is usually two hours and subsequent sessions are 1.5 hours.
Discernment counseling is not Suited for these situations:
- When one spouse has already made a final decision to divorce
- When one spouse is coercing the other to participate
- When there is danger of domestic violence.
Watch these videos for more information on Discernment Counseling:
If your spouse won’t attend counseling with you, consider Couples Counseling for One.
Plum Tree Counseling is LGBTQIA+ affirming.
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We always protect the identities of our clients. With that being said, here are a few unsolicited endorsements from professionals who know us.
When my clients ask me for a referral for a relationship therapist whether they are married or a single, I immediately send them to Sheri. Her intown location is ideal for my clients' busy schedules and she is dedicated to helping her clients achieve their relationship goals. I've known Sheri personally and professionally for more than 5 years and her dedication to her clients is unparalleled.
Susan MorleyI cannot say enough great things about Sheri Hardin! Her thoughtful and engaging approach to helping sort through complicated emotions and overcoming communication road blocks is incredibly helpful. I highly recommend Sheri Hardin!
Stephanie HSheri is great person who truly cares about others and helping them have successful relationships!
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