Newswise — One of the most complicated scenarios in couple therapy involves the situation in which one or both partners express uncertainty about trying to preserve their marriage. The Family Institute at Northwestern University’s Nathan Hardy, PhD, is available to comment on discernment counseling.
“The goal of discernment counseling is for each partner to have greater clarity and confidence in terms of their decision-making for the future of their relationship,” explains Dr. Hardy.
Discernment Counseling is not couple therapy. It is more of a holding place for couples to consider their options before making a final decision. At the beginning of treatment, three specific pathways couples can pursue as a result of discernment counseling are discussed:
(1) Maintain status quo. A couple may decide to keep a decision on hold for now.(2) Pursue a good divorce.(3) Commit to six months of couple therapy with the divorce decision off the table during that time. “The possibility of helping some couples save their marriage — and all couples find greater clarity and resolve about whichever path they choose — is work worth doing,” says Dr. Hardy.
Dr. Hardy received his Bachelor’s in Marriage, Family, and Human Development from Brigham Young University and his Master’s and PhD degrees in Marriage and Family Therapy from Kansas State University. His clinical expertise lies in helping couples work through sexual desire differences, extramarital affairs, communication problems, conflict, and divorce. He is a differentiation-based therapist and educator who helps partners stand steady as balanced individuals while deepening their connection as a couple. This approach, when combined with healthy emotional regulation, can encourage increased self-awareness, self-development, relationship healing, and growth. Through Discernment Counseling, he helps couples gain clarity and confidence about what steps to take next with their marriage, understand what has happened to their marriage, look at both spouse’s sides of the problems, determine whether past counseling has been helpful, evaluate the possibility of solving their problems and staying married, and make a good decision about whether or not to move towards divorce.
To speak to Dr. Hardy about discernment counseling, or to learn more about The Family Institute, please contact Cyndi Schu, Director of Public Relations, at cschu@family-institute or 312-609-5300, ext. 483.
ABOUT THE FAMILY INSTITUTE AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY – For over 45 years, The Family Institute at Northwestern University (www.family-institute.org) has been committed to strengthening and healing families and individuals from all walks of life through clinical service, education and research. An affiliate of Northwestern University, The Family Institute is a unique, innovative not-for-profit organization, governed by its own independent Board of Directors and responsible for its own funding. The Institute offers a wide range of high quality mental health counseling through our staff practice and our sliding-fee scale Bette D. Harris Family and Child Clinic, where we are committed to serving at-risk, under-resourced communities. The Family Institute also operates two nationally-renowned graduate programs in marriage and family therapy and counseling psychology in affiliation with Northwestern University, and conducts cutting-edge research projects that lead to a better understanding and treatment of mental health issues.
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