Separation | Discernment

Sometimes couples are uncertain about whether or not they want to work on their marriage. Separating and Discernment Counseling is a brief process to decide whether to launch into intensive marriage counseling or proceed towards divorce.

There is a lot of misunderstanding around separation. Most couples think separation just means divorce or they often skip right over separation to divorce. Separation doesn't have to mean divorce. Separation can lead to reconciliation. Most couples do not give the time and attention to separation as they did during the dating relationship leading to marriage. 

Separation can be a powerful time to process your marriage, if guided and used in the proper way. Part of the discernment process is to slow things down so that everyone can see what is real and what is not real. There are some tried and true methods and processes of separation that can be done to aid in the process, no matter the outcome.

Divorce Counseling

Divorce counseling can help both parties learn to communicate effectively and civilly during the divorce process. If there are children in the family, a civil, healthy divorce is imperative for the well-being of all family members and will minimize the trauma of divorce on the children. Pre-divorce counseling can assist with parenting issues related to divorce and provide a forum for how to best tell your children about your impending divorce. Pre-divorce counseling will prepare you for some of the feelings and emotions you may have throughout the divorce process, as well as preemptively teach you coping strategies you can apply when you have trouble over the coming months.

Post-Divorce Co-parenting

Once you have been intimately related, there can never be a complete disconnect between members of a family. This makes divorce a particularly challenging emotional event. As a parent you must continue to relate to your former spouse. Your children need to see you working together to give their lives a solid foundation.

Divorce brings a significant rupture to the most essential safety and stability systems we have. You may feel strong anger and sadness, grief, guilt, confusion, and/or even relief at a time when you are also making fundamental decisions that will affect the rest of your lives.

A counselor can comfort, soothe, explain, make sense of, and support your family through the divorce process.

lea@leavoigt.com  | virtual practice only  |   615-592-5036