Discernment Counseling in Beverly Hills & Los Angeles
Short-term counseling for couples when one partner is unsure whether to stay together or separate. In person in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, and online throughout California.
For Couples at a Crossroads · Beverly Hills, Los Angeles & Online
At a Glance
Sessions
Short-term, with time together and time with each partner
Offices
Beverly Hills & Los Angeles, plus online anywhere in California
First Step
A free 30-minute consultation to see if it feels like a fit
Maybe this feels familiar:
One of you is leaning out while the other wants to keep trying
You’ve talked about separating, but nothing is decided
Couples therapy hasn’t helped, or feels like the wrong next step
One partner isn’t sure they want to work on the relationship
You don’t want to make a decision this big in a moment of hurt
You both want clarity, even if you don’t agree yet
Discernment counseling isn’t about saving or ending your relationship. It’s about helping you both get clear on what comes next.
You might be worried that walking in means you’ve already committed to fixing things—or to ending them.
Who This Is For
Is Discernment Counseling Right for You?
Discernment counseling in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles is for couples where one partner is unsure whether to stay together and the other wants to try. It may help if some of these sound familiar:
One partner is leaning toward separation or divorce
The other partner wants to save the relationship
Trust has been shaken by an affair or betrayal
Years of the same conflict have left you exhausted
Past couples therapy didn’t lead to real change
You feel more like roommates than partners
A major life transition has you questioning the future
You want to decide with clarity, not in crisis
What Working Together Looks Like
Free consultation. A 30-minute conversation about where things stand and whether discernment counseling or couples therapy is the better fit.
Together and apart. Sessions include time with both of you and time with each partner individually, so both perspectives have room to be heard.
Short-term by design. Discernment counseling is brief and focused, in person in Beverly Hills or Los Angeles, or online anywhere in California.
Choosing a path. If you both decide to work on the relationship, the next step can be Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy.
01 · When One of You Is Unsure
When One Partner Is Leaning Out and the Other Wants to Stay
Many couples come in with what’s called a mixed agenda: one partner is leaning out of the relationship, while the other is leaning in and wants to keep trying. Traditional couples therapy assumes both partners are ready to work on things, and when one of you isn’t, therapy can stall before it starts.
Discernment counseling was designed for exactly this moment. Instead of asking you to fix the relationship right away, it slows things down so you can both understand how you got here and what each of you has contributed to the problems.
The leaning-out partner doesn’t have to pretend to be committed, and the leaning-in partner doesn’t have to convince anyone. Both perspectives are respected.
The goal isn’t to keep you together or to help you separate. It’s to help you make a decision with clarity and confidence, rather than in the middle of hurt or crisis.
02 · Grounded in Clarity
My Approach to Discernment Counseling
Discernment counseling is a short-term, structured approach for couples at a crossroads. I work with you together and with each of you individually, so the partner who is leaning out and the partner who is leaning in each have space to speak honestly.
Together, we look at what has happened in the relationship, what each of you has tried, and what is getting in the way. The focus is on understanding, not on assigning blame.
By the end of the process, couples typically choose one of three paths: keep the relationship as it is for now, move toward separation, or commit to a period of couples therapy with separation off the table while you work on things.
Whatever you decide, you leave with a clearer understanding of yourselves and your relationship, which matters whether you stay together or not.
If you choose to work on the relationship, we can move into Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, an evidence-based approach that helps partners break painful cycles and rebuild connection.
I offer discernment counseling in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, with in-person sessions and telehealth across California.
You don’t have to decide this alone, or in a hurry.
03 · What Becomes Clearer
How Discernment Counseling Can Help
Discernment counseling in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles gives you a structured space to step back from day-to-day conflict and look at the bigger picture. Through the process, couples can:
Understand how the relationship got here
See your own part in the problems more clearly
Decide with clarity instead of in crisis
Ease the pressure on both partners
Know if couples therapy is the right next step
Whatever you decide, you can move forward with more confidence.
Clarity doesn’t require agreement. It starts with understanding.
Discernment Counseling FAQs
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Discernment counseling is a short-term approach for couples when one partner is unsure whether to stay together and the other wants to try. Instead of jumping into couples therapy, it helps you both understand how the relationship got here and decide on a direction with clarity and confidence.
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Discernment counseling is short-term by design. Rather than ongoing weekly therapy, it is a brief, focused process that ends once you both have enough clarity to choose a direction. We will talk about what to expect during your free consultation.
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Fees for discernment counseling are discussed during your free consultation. For reference, couples therapy is typically $200 for 50 minutes and $250 for 75 minutes. I’m an out-of-network provider, and if you have a PPO plan, I’ll submit claims on your behalf so you can use your out-of-network benefits. A sliding scale is available based on financial need.
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Yes. I offer discernment counseling in person at my Beverly Hills and Los Angeles offices, and online over secure video for couples anywhere in California.
Other Ways I Can Help
Every service is offered in person at the Beverly Hills and Los Angeles offices and online throughout California.
Expert Psychological Training Grounded in Emotional and Relational Understanding
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I’m trained in a variety of therapy methods, allowing me to tailor my approach to your unique goals and needs. These include:
Psychodynamic / Psychoanalytic Therapy
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Humanistic & Existential Therapy -
I bring advanced clinical training and ongoing professional development to my work with clients.
Education: Doctorate in Applied Clinical Psychology (PsyD), The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Licensure: Licensed Clinical Psychologist – California
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Keep the full existing text of this item (PsyD training, Lacan School of Psychoanalysis candidacy, EFCT certification in progress, and clinical settings).
Discernment Counseling in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles & Online
Beverly Hills Office
8500 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 740
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Los Angeles Office
8271 Melrose Ave, Suite 110
Los Angeles, CA 90046
Online Therapy in California
Secure sessions over Zoom or by phone, from the comfort and privacy of your own space, anywhere in California.
Let’s Work Together
Deciding whether to stay or go is one of the hardest choices a couple can face, and it deserves more than a decision made in the middle of an argument. If you’re ready for clarity, schedule a free 30-minute consultation. Together, we can determine whether discernment counseling is the right next step.