Working with Divorce-Ambivalent Clients | Therapist Training
A 3-Hour Workshop for Therapists and Helping Professionals
Presented by Teresa Prince, LPC
Official Doherty Relationship Institute Presenter and Certified Discernment Counselor
When one partner is “leaning out” of the marriage and the other is fighting to hold it together, therapists often feel stuck. Traditional couples therapy can backfire, and individual therapy can unintentionally reinforce separation.
This 3-hour professional training, developed by Dr. William Doherty and presented by Teresa Prince, a Doherty Relationship Institute–endorsed presenter, equips clinicians to navigate this delicate clinical space with confidence and compassion.
Learning Objectives
Participants will learn how to:
Recognize and assess divorce ambivalence in individual and couples therapy.
Distinguish between clarifying a direction and working on the relationship—and why timing matters.
Avoid common therapist pitfalls that inadvertently hasten divorce.
Use reflective and systemic techniques to expand a client’s narrative about the relationship.
Introduce and refer appropriately to Discernment Counseling, a structured short-term model for “mixed-agenda” couples on the brink.
Why This Workshop Matters
Research shows that nearly 25% of married individuals report serious thoughts of divorce at any given time.
Yet these thoughts are often dynamic—not decisive.
With the right therapeutic guidance, many rediscover hope, perspective, and direction.
This workshop helps therapists:
Avoid getting triangulated into one partner’s narrative.
Offer ethically sound and value-sensitive support.
Guide ambivalent clients toward clarity and confidence rather than confusion and regret.
Interested in Offering This Workshop at Your Conference, University, or Counseling Center?
Send Teresa A Message!
Who Should Attend
Individual, couples, and family therapists
Graduate counseling programs
Clinical supervisors and group practices
Faith-based counseling centers and community mental-health agencies
Workshop Format
This 3-hour professional training combines didactic teaching, case reflection, and guided discussion to help therapists gain both conceptual understanding and practical skills.
Format includes:
Teaching Segments: Research on divorce ambivalence, common therapist challenges, and the Doherty Relationship Institute’s values-based approach.
Interactive Reflection: Small-group or individual reflection on a current or past ambivalent client, exploring what made the work challenging and what could be done differently.
Clinical Application: Step-by-step framework for assessing ambivalence, clarifying therapeutic direction, and supporting client decision-making.
Discernment Counseling Overview: Introduction to the structure, goals, and referral process for this short-term model developed by Dr. William Doherty for mixed-agenda couples.
Case Discussion and Q&A: Opportunities to integrate learning through clinical examples and dialogue.
Host This Workshop In Your Community
This workshop can be delivered online or in person at your counseling center, university, or professional event—nationwide and internationally.