Observant Mind Integrative Counseling + Wellness | South Austin, TX
Discernment Counseling
in Austin & Across Texas
An 8-week process designed to help you and your partner gain clarity - whether that means recommitting to the relationship or separating with respect and intention.
Night & Weekends Appointments
No-Wait Times
Trauma Specialists -
Care beyond trauma-informed
Jumpstart your journey with my
Self-Compassion Journal
Restore. Reignite. Rediscover.
Here at Observant Mind, we believe that every couple, no matter how distant or divided, has the potential to rediscover the deep bond that once connected them. The pain you carry—the frustration, the misunderstandings, the hurt from betrayals—does not define your love. It is simply the call to heal, and overcome together.
Not Sure if Your Relationship Is Over?
Discernment counseling may be helpful when...
One partner is leaning out, while the other still wants to try
Conversations keep cycling without resolution
Traditional couples therapy feels premature or ineffective
The uncertainty itself has become exhausting
You may feel torn between staying and leaving because both options carry fear, grief, responsibility, and guilt.
When a relationship reaches this kind of crossroads, the uncertainty can feel unbearable.
Discernment counseling exists for this in-between space - not to force a decision, but to help you make one with clarity, groundedness, and integrity.
Staying in limbo often hurts more than choosing a direction.
What Is Discernment Counseling?
Discernment counseling is a short-term, structured process for couples who are uncertain about the future of their relationship.
Rather than focusing on fixing problems right away, we slow things down and focus on:
Understanding how you got here
Clarifying each partner’s role, patterns, and capacity
Creating space for honest reflection without pressure
Explore what repair would truly require or what separation would look like with care
Guiding you through the hard, uncomfortable but necessary conversations.
Discernment Counseling Supports Both Partners
If You’re the Partner Leaning In
You may feel anxious or terrified of losing the person you love, and confused by why they're considering leaving.
Discernment counseling offers:
Containment so you’re not stuck pleading or convincing
Support in understanding your own patterns and limits
Clarity about what repair would realistically involve and what is outside your control
You are not asked to give up hope but to ground it in reality.
If You’re the Partner Leaning Out
You may feel emotionally exhausted, shut down, or unsure whether you have anything left to give.
Discernment counseling offers:
Space to explore your uncertainty without being pressured
Support in understanding what led to disengagement
Help separating clarity from avoidance, fear, or burnout
You are not required to recommit only to engage honestly.
The 8-Week Discernment Counseling Process
How the Process Unfolds
While each couple’s process is unique, discernment counseling generally moves through three phases:
Phase 1: Stabilizing & Clarifying the Present
We slow reactive cycles, create emotional containment, and clarify where each partner currently stands regarding the relationship.
Phase 2: Exploring What Would Need to Change
We examine the patterns that led to this crossroads and name what would realistically need to shift for either partner’s position to change.
Phase 3: Clarifying a Path Forward
We walk through the practical and emotional realities of each option - recommitment, maintaining the status quo, or beginning the uncoupling process - so the decision is made consciously and with integrity.
This process unfolds over approximately eight sessions and adapts to the needs and pacing of each couple.
Sessions may include a combination of Individual sessions with each partner, Joint sessions for structured dialogue, and Guided reflection and decision-making support.
You won’t be rushed, but you also won’t remain indefinitely stuck.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will you push us to stay together or break up?
No. Discernment counseling is intentionally neutral. The work is about helping you arrive at a clear, grounded decision not steering you toward a specific outcome.
Is discernment counseling the same as couples therapy?
No. Couples therapy assumes both partners are committed to repairing the relationship. Discernment counseling is specifically for couples where one or both partners are unsure whether they want to continue.
What if one of us is more committed to the process than the other?
That is very common and expected. Discernment counseling is designed to work even when partners are in different places.
Is this appropriate if there has been betrayal or ongoing conflict?
Often yes, as long as there is no active abuse or immediate safety concerns. Fit will be assessed during the consultation.
What happens after discernment counseling ends?
Depending on the outcome, couples may:
Transition into couples therapy with their current therapist or a new one.
Move forward with separation support
Or pause therapy with clarity about next steps
Referrals and recommendations are provided as needed.
Observant Mind
Your Guide In Honest Discussions
Discernment counseling at Observant Mind Integrative Counseling + Wellness is provided by licensed therapists specializing in trauma-informed, relational work with couples navigating high-stakes decisions.
Our role is not to take sides or push outcomes, but to provide structure, neutrality, and emotional safety so each partner can engage honestly in the process.
In-person in South Austin | Virtual across Texas
Leah Parker, LPC
Clinical Founder
Get in touch
Clarity is Possible
We understand you may have questions about this process and whether it’s the right fit.
That’s why we offer a free 25-minute consultation to help you get clarity and decide your next step.
as seen on
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Master Communication
communication isn’t just about talking—it’s about being truly heard. It’s about opening the heart wide enough to let your partner in, even in moments of pain or anger. It’s about finding the words that carry your deepest needs and desires, and feeling safe enough to express them without fear. If you’ve been caught in cycles of bickering or silence, here is the space to break free. Together, we’ll cultivate the tools to speak from a place of clarity and compassion, so your needs are not just heard, but truly understood.
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Observant Mind
Integrative Counseling
Therapy in Austin & Greater TX
Contact
8700 Menchaca Rd.
Suite 702
Austin, TX 78748
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