| Couples Therapy | Discernment Counseling | |
| Purpose and Goals | To “fix” issues and problems that are causing distress in the relationship such as poor communication, loss of trust, loss of connection, etc. | To help each spouse find clarity about which direction to take the marriage; find greater clarity of the problems in the marriage and their own individual contributions of the issues and problems the marriage |
| Good Candidates | Both spouses are interested in staying together and improving the marriage. When both partners are willing to work at fixing the problems with the therapist | Mixed agenda couples: when partner is leaning in to the marriage and wants it to work out and the other partner is leaning out and is not sure if they want to try to work on the marriage |
| Not So Good Candidates | When one spouse is not invested on working on the marriage. When there is domestic violence and abuse | When neither spouse is leaning in or wants to work on the problems in the marriage. When both spouses are committed and want to work on the marriage. When one spouse has decided to end the marriage and has filed for divorce. When there is domestic violence or an order of protection issued. Also, couples who are dating and not married |
| Approach | Both spouses meet together with the therapist for each session generally | Each session spent with the therapist is a combination of joint and individual time, however, most of the time in session is spent individually |
| General Duration | Most commonly, couples therapy is 12 to 25 sessions. However, shorter or longer time is possible | One to five sessions; each spouse commits to only one session at a time |
What is the Difference Between Couples Therapy and Discernment Counseling?
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Discernment Counseling in Michigan and Arizona 
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