Reconciliation or Divorce?
Decision Intensive with Dr. Anna K. Smith, MEd, PsyD, AASECT-Certified Sex Therapist
4 hours of joint and individual work to decide your direction.
Our hearts at Awakenings are to help couples stay together, but regretfully we know that not every marriage can or should be saved…
The goal of a Decision Intensive is to help you develop a deeper understanding of the problems in the relationship and how each partner contributed to those. From that place, you can make a more informed decision about how to move forward—into couples therapy, or on to divorce.
Mixed Agendas?
At times, divorce is not a shared decision—one partner may be leaning out (considering divorce) while the other is leaning in (desiring reconciliation). These different stances put extra burdens on both spouses and cause numerous miscommunications.
Leaning Out?
You may have been worried about the marriage for some time; or, perhaps, you are in crisis following an affair. You may not feel sure that couples counseling can help or you may be feeling too burnt out or overwhelmed to consider it.
Leaning In?
You are likely pulled in many directions at once: you want to attempt counseling but you don’t know how to approach your spouse and you worry about pushing them away or how to proceed. Regardless, you know the marriage is struggling and you are determined to find a solution.
A Different Goal.
Traditional marriage counseling often fails when spouses with different agendas cannot agree on a therapeutic goal.
The Choice Is Always Yours.
To ensure that both partners are heard and their feelings honored, you come in as a couple but will also each meet individually with Dr. Smith. There is no blame in this process, only the space to take responsibility for the choices you each make when interacting with one another and what led to this difficult place. Through the work you will reach a decision, mutually, to:
- Separate and do so with a space of support and safety;
- Commit to creating a new, healthier, marriage, together;
- Undertake couples counseling to continue to work towards clarity in each of your wants and needs.
Decision Intensives are scheduled on Fridays and the full fee ($1,600) is required at the time of booking and are non-transferable to other services and non-refundable.
Deciding whether or not to stay in a marriage is a painful journey—one you do not have to make alone.
For availability and additional information on Decision Intensives with Dr. Smith, please call the Awakenings office at (919)845-5400 or email [email protected].