By Christina Neri, LCSW | Certified Level 3 Gottman Therapist | Maverick Marriage Therapy, Marietta, GA Quick Answer:  Discernment counseling is a short-term, structured process — typically 1 to 5 sessions — designed for couples where one partner is considering divorce and the other wants to save the marriage. It doesn't try to fix the relationship. Its only goal is to help both partners arrive at clarity and confidence about which direction to go next. It was developed by Dr

The Gottman Method is a research-validated approach to couples therapy built on 40+ years of observational science.

By Christina Neri, LCSW | Reviewed for Clinical Accuracy on March 4, 2026 You’ve suggested therapy, and his response was likely a heavy sigh or a defensive wall. Perhaps he agreed, but you can see the mounting hyper-vigilance in his eyes. He expects to walk into a clinical deposition where he is the only defendant. The Bottom Line:  Relational Life Therapy (RLT) is a directive, high-accountability model of couples counseling designed to break chronic cycles of conflict. By id

You know the feeling: the heavy pit in your stomach as you pull into the driveway after work, wondering which version of your partner you will encounter tonight.

When you are in the middle of a marriage crisis, the world feels smaller. The walls of your home, once a sanctuary, may now feel like the epicenter of a storm. You might be checking your phone for lawyers, or perhaps you are simply sitting in silence, wondering if one more night under the same roof will lead to a permanent separation.

Marriage counseling isn’t about fixing what’s broken—Here's how the right approach, grounded in experience and empathy, can make counseling a lasting path forward.

Why Your Marriage Feels More Like Parenting Than Partnership Let’s talk about something real. You love your partner, but lately, being...

La historia de Andrea y Emilio ya no es rara. Lucharon mucho para estar juntos. Ciudades distintas. Llamadas a distancia. Horas en...

Andrea and Emilio's story isn’t rare anymore. They fought hard to be together. Different cities. Long-distance calls. Hours on trains. But a few years into marriage, with a baby in the picture and a shared zip code, Andrea felt lonelier than ever. Emilio was there physically, but emotionally? His phone had his attention. And that silent distance between them grew loud enough to send Andrea into therapy. Welcome to the world of phubbing. What Is Phubbing, Really? "Phubbing" =

These are six tips and tricks to keep in mind when bringing up couples therapy/ therapy with loved ones

Stress is an inevitable part of life, but when it seeps into your marriage, it can feel like a widening gulf between you and your partner.

Addiction has taken control of your relationship and after riding the ups and downs of each episode you realize your partnership is in...

Let’s face it. Unless you grew up in an emotionally healthy family system it’s highly likely you never learned how to be emotionally...