Penny For Your Thoughts Counselling
Penny For Your Thoughts Counselling
Penny For Your Thoughts Counselling
Penny For Your Thoughts Counselling
Penny For Your Thoughts Counselling
Penny For Your Thoughts Counselling
Discernment Counselling
Considering divorce or separation but unsure? Discernment Counselling helps you find clarity.
Discernment Counselling is a way of helping couples where one person is “leaning out” of the relationship, and the other is "leaning in”
In this circumstance, my role is to help you decide whether to try to restore your marriage to health, move toward divorce, or take a time out and decide later.
The goal is for you both to gain clarity and confidence about a direction, based on a deeper understanding of your contribution to the relationship
The goal is not to solve your marital problems but to see if they are, in-fact, solvable. You will each be treated with compassion and respect no matter how you are feeling about your marriage at the moment.
What is Discernment Counselling
In this short video, Professor Bill Doherty, founder of Discernment Counselling, explains how the process helps couples when one person is leaning out of the relationship and the other is leaning in. The aim is not to persuade either partner, but to help both gain greater clarity and confidence about the direction of the relationship.
How Would It Work?
You will attend as a couple, but much of the important work takes place in individual conversations with the counsellor, alongside carefully structured conversations together.
Why? Because you may be starting from very different places.
If you are leaning towards leaving, your concerns and reasons for considering separation or divorce will be heard and respected, while also exploring whether there may be a path towards restoring the relationship.
If you are hoping to save the relationship, you will be supported to understand your partner's concerns and consider what would need to change.
A central part of Discernment Counselling is helping each of you understand your own contribution to the difficulties in the relationship and what you might need to do differently.
This understanding can be valuable whether you ultimately rebuild your relationship or decide to separate, and can help you create healthier relationships in the future.
Further Information
Discernment Counselling offers a structured space when you are uncertain about the future of your relationship. Together, we will slow things down, understand how you reached this point, and help you gain greater clarity and confidence about the right way forward.
Discernment Counselling
The first session is 2 hours – £210.
Further sessions are 90 minutes – £157.00 per session.
Discernment Counselling is a short-term process of up to five sessions, designed for couples where one partner is leaning towards leaving the relationship while the other hopes to save it.
Ready to Begin?
The first step in Discernment Counselling is a free, individual 20-minute consultation with each partner separately.
Each of you will need to contact me separately to arrange your own consultation before the first Discernment Counselling session can be booked.
Discernment Counselling is not suited for these situations:
- When one spouse has already made a final decision to divorce
- When one spouse is coercing the other to participate
- When there is danger of domestic abuse
Testimonials From Happy Clients
Penny For Your Thoughts Counselling
1 Bridge Chambers, The Strand, Barnstaple, Devon, England, United Kingdom
Hours
Mon | 09:00 – 19:30 | |
Tue | 09:00 – 19:30 | |
Wed | 12:00 – 19:30 | |
Thu | 09:00 – 19:30 | |
Fri | By Appointment | |
Sat | Closed | |
Sun | Closed |
I am unavailable outside working hour's. Feel free to contact me, and I will respond within 24 hour's Mon-Fri.
At weekends ill respond on Monday
Discernment Counselling – Your Questions Answered
Is Discernment Counselling the same as couples therapy?
No. Couples therapy is for couples who are ready to work on improving their relationship. Discernment Counselling is for couples who are uncertain about whether they want to do that. The focus is on gaining clarity and confidence about what happens next.
Will you try to persuade us to stay together?
No. My role is not to persuade either of you to stay or leave. I will help you slow the decision-making process down, understand how you reached this point and consider your options carefully.
Do we spend the whole session together?
No. Sessions include time together as a couple and individual conversations with me. This allows each of you space to explore your thoughts and experiences while still working within a structured couples process.
Do we have to commit to all five sessions?
No. Discernment Counselling has a maximum of five sessions, but you do not commit to all five at the beginning. We take the process one session at a time.
What if we have other questions?
Every couple's circumstances are different. Questions specific to your relationship or about whether Discernment Counselling is suitable for you can be discussed privately during your individual 20-minute consultation.
More Frequently Asked Questions
Couples counselling helps partners improve communication, rebuild trust, dismantle learned behaviours and strengthen emotional connection in a safe, structured space.
Common concerns include communication problems, separation, intimacy issues, emotional infidelity, relationship uncertainty, anxiety, burnout, and low self-esteem.
Discernment Counselling
First session: 2 hours – £210
Further sessions: 90 minutes – £157
After 6.30pm: 2 hours £230
Discernment Counselling is a short-term process of up to five sessions.
Yes. I offer a free 20-minute consultation to discuss your situation and explore the best next steps. It is not a joint consultation. Each person in the relationship contacts me to book their consultation.
I’m a qualified therapist and a registered member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy).
I have years of experience providing couples counselling and relationship therapy in Barnstaple and online, supporting people through communication breakdown, separation, and relationship uncertainty.
My approach is warm, practical, and actively engaged, helping clients understand deeper patterns and move towards healthier relationships.
You can book your free 20-minute consultation by completing the online form on the website or by contacting:
📞 07580 350168
Penny For Your Thoughts Counselling
1 Bridge Chambers, The Strand, Barnstaple, EX31 1HB
Tele: 07580350168
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