Discernment Mediation
When one of you isn't sure the marriage is over and the other isn't sure it can be saved.
Clarity before commitment — in either direction.
Discernment Mediation is a short-term, structured process for couples where one partner is leaning toward ending the marriage and the other wants to save it. It is not couples counseling. It is not divorce mediation. It is a distinct process designed to do one thing well: help both of you gain the clarity needed to make a confident, informed decision about the future of your relationship.
Most couples in this situation have already tried talking — and it hasn't worked. The conversation cycles. One partner pushes, the other pulls away. Resentment builds. Clarity feels impossible. Discernment Mediation creates a structured, professionally guided space to slow that cycle down and look honestly at what has happened in the relationship and what is truly possible.
The process typically involves 5–7 sessions — one initial joint session, one individual session per partner, and 2–4 joint sessions — ending with both partners choosing one of three paths, with clarity and without regret.
Three paths forward. All of them valid.
The goal of Discernment Mediation is not to save your marriage or to end it. The goal is to help both of you arrive at a decision you can stand behind — together.
Path 1: Pause
Take a breath. Make no major decisions right now. Step back from the urgency to resolve everything immediately and give yourselves time to think more clearly.
Path 2: Reconciliation
Both partners commit to a time-limited, genuine effort to repair the relationship — often through couples counseling — with clear, shared goals and a realistic understanding of what that work requires.
Path 3: Separation or Divorce
Both partners move forward with separation or divorce — with greater clarity, less animosity, and a more grounded foundation for what comes next for each of them.
The leaning in and the leaning out.
Leaning in
You want to save this marriage. You feel blindsided, confused, or desperate. You want your partner to hear what you're willing to change — and you want a real chance to make that case in a structured, safe setting.
Leaning out
You're considering leaving but you're not fully certain. You have doubts. You don't want to make a decision this significant without being sure — and without honestly understanding what you haven't yet tried.
A carefully structured sequence.
Initial joint session
Both partners meet with Dr. Jones together to understand the process, establish ground rules, and share their initial perspectives on the relationship and what has brought them here.
Individual session: one per partner
Each partner meets privately with Dr. Jones to explore their own role in the relationship, their honest assessment of what they want, and what they are genuinely willing to offer. These sessions are confidential and give each person the space to speak freely.
Joint sessions: 2 to 4 sessions
Both partners work together with Dr. Jones through a series of facilitated joint sessions — building shared understanding, exploring what repair would realistically require, and moving toward a clear, mutual decision about their path forward.
Total: 5–7 sessions. The process begins with one initial joint session, followed by one individual session with each partner. After that, there are typically 2–4 additional one-hour joint sessions. At times, joint sessions may be scheduled back-to-back as a two-hour meeting. The total number of joint sessions depends on the complexity of the situation and the pace that best supports both partners.
No conflict of interest by design.
At the conclusion of the discernment process, both partners will receive referrals for the next step of their journey, whether that is marriage counseling or divorce mediation — if requested.
If the decision is divorce, Dr. Jones will not serve as Divorce Mediator.
He will not serve as your divorce mediator after serving as your discernment mediator. This is by design. It protects the integrity of the process and ensures there is never a conflict of interest in the guidance you receive. The recommendations you receive will be genuine, independent, and made entirely in your interest.
Clinically trained. Process-focused.
Dr. Eliezer Jones holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology and has spent nearly two decades working with couples navigating some of the most difficult moments in a relationship. His clinical training gives him the depth to understand what is really happening beneath the surface of a struggling marriage — and his mediation background gives him the skill to facilitate honest, productive conversation between two people who may feel miles apart.
Discernment Mediation is not therapy. It is a structured, forward-focused process. But it is informed by deep clinical understanding of how relationships break down and what genuine repair actually requires. That combination is rare, and it matters when the stakes are this high.
💡 Discernment Mediation can be used as a standalone service or as a first step before engaging in divorce mediation, couples counseling, or collaborative divorce. Dr. Jones will help you determine the right path at the end of your process.
Additional Services We Offer
Explore our full range of services to find the right combination for your family's needs.
Not sure what you want. That's exactly the point.
Schedule a free consultation with Dr. Jones to learn whether Discernment Mediation is the right next step for you and your partner.