One Foot In.

One Foot Out.

One Last Chance.

Short-term discernment counseling for couples when the future of the relationship is uncertain.

Your marriage is in limbo:

One of you isn’t sure if you want to stay, and the other doesn't want to let go. 

You’re stuck in the same loop, exhausted by tension, and overwhelmed by the pressure to make it work or move on.

The raw reality is that you have three paths:

1

Continue your relationship as-is.

2

Separate and/or divorce.

3

An all-out effort in couple’s therapy.

Here’s what no one’s telling you, though:

Your marriage isn’t ready for couples therapy; you need clarity first.

Discernment counseling is a short-term, no-pressure process for couples on the brink of divorce, ready to determine the best next move for each individual. 

We slow down, lean in, support a leaning-in spouse to be the best cheerleader for the marriage and help the leaning-out spouse figure out what you actually want without jumping into long-term couples therapy or walking away with regret. 

This service offers space for a leaning-out partner to reflect without pressure to commit to saving the marriage, while also honoring the leaning-in partner’s desire to preserve the relationship. It supports both individuals during this crisis and lays the groundwork for the possibility of future couples therapy.

As a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Courtney brings over a decade of experience helping individuals and couples untangle the most complex, emotionally loaded relational decisions without judgment, guilt, or false hope.

Dr. Courtney combines clinical experience, advanced certifications, and real-life relationship insight to help couples on the brink of divorce make one of the hardest decisions of their lives with zero BS.

Discernment Counseling

Short-Term for Couples Questioning Their Relationship

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

Clarity around your decision (whether to stay, separate, or try couples therapy with continued support) based on the proven discernment counseling model

1:1 guidance from one of only nine Master Practitioners in the world (certification pending Dec. 2025)

Up to five 2-hour sessions total, taken one at a time, with no long-term commitment required

Individual time with each partner during every session (plus a short portion together to share insights)

Tools to explore personal accountability without blame or shame

Process

Introductory Video

Before you inquire, watch the 6-minute video below to learn more about how discernment counseling works:

Inquire

Fill out our contact form to schedule a quick, risk-free consultation so we can make sure this is the right fit for your circumstances.

Start Your Session

In the first session, we begin together as a couple. I’ll guide you through a set of core questions designed to help each of you reflect on what’s brought the relationship to this point and what you’re hoping for—whether that’s staying the course, pursuing separation, or exploring the possibility of couples therapy. These questions aren’t about rushing to a decision; they’re about beginning to slow things down and look at your situation with more clarity and intention.

After that shared time, I’ll meet individually with each of you. The partner who stays will have space to reflect on their role in the marriage’s challenges, gain clarity about what they want, and consider what personal growth might look like—whether that’s within this relationship or in future ones.

Once the first partner finishes their one-on-one, the other is invited back to hear a brief summary—if their partner is ready to share—and then we switch. The second partner then has their own private time to reflect, clarify, and create their own summary.

Discernment Counseling is not about blaming or fixing. It’s about making space for honesty, growth, and a decision made with intention—not urgency.

Moving Forward

At the end of each discernment counseling session, we’ll check in about where you are in the process. If a decision hasn’t yet been made, we’ll decide together whether it makes sense to schedule another session. You can meet for up to five sessions total—enough time to gain clarity without staying stuck.

The goal isn’t to force a decision, but to support each of you in making an informed, honest choice:

  • to stay in the marriage as it is,

  • to pursue separation or divorce, or

  • to commit to a deeper process of couples therapy aimed at repairing the relationship.

No matter the outcome, discernment counseling is about helping you move forward with intention, clarity and confidence.

When You’re on the Brink, Clarity Matters Most

Divorces are expensive, and not just financially. They cost years of uncertainty, emotional turmoil, and regret if you rush the decision. 

I don’t offer discernment counseling to get your partner “on board” with divorce. If you’ve already made that decision, you don’t need me.

But if you’re stuck in limbo, unsure whether to stay, separate, or give it one last shot, this is your first step in getting clear answers.

I’m Dr. Courtney Freiman, a licensed clinical psychologist and one of only nine clinicians completing the Master Practitioner Fellowship in Discernment Counseling.

I help couples slow down, take off their emotional armor, and get honest about what’s next for each individual, both together and separately.

When the stakes are this high, you don’t need pressure or validation…you need a clear perspective.

And that’s exactly what you’ll find inside Discernment Counseling.

Have a Question?

  • Discernment counseling isn’t about fixing your relationship; it’s about figuring out whether it’s worth trying to fix in the first place.

    In traditional couples therapy, both people are expected to be fully committed to working on the relationship. But if one of you is already halfway out the door, that setup doesn’t work.

    Discernment counseling creates space to pause, reflect, and make a clear, confident decision before you invest in couples therapy.

  • Both partners have to be on board to begin discernment counseling. If your partner is unwilling to come, I am unable to provide this service to you.

  • We do not accept health insurance. However, you may have out-of-network benefits that could cover a percentage of your therapy fee. In order to determine if your insurance company will reimburse you for the cost of services, we recommend contacting them directly.

  • PWS and Dr. Courtney are based in McLean, Virginia, but we also offer telehealth sessions for couples on the brink of divorce across the U.S.

This is your marriage’s one last chance.

Use it wisely.

Together, we’ll help you discern between your marriage’s three options moving forward and end your infinite loop of exhaustion, tension, and overwhelm.