Divorce Counseling & Therapy Services in Tennessee

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What is Divorce Counseling?

Divorce counseling is a process that can assist you in navigating the emotions associated with divorce and learning how to manage conflict productively. Couples or individuals may participate. Divorce typically brings up a lot of painful emotions for both sides. Addressing these feelings might help you heal more quickly and build a stronger post-divorce relationship with your former partner.

Planning the logistics of funds, schedules, children, friends, family members, and the related after a divorce involves communication. Many couples didn’t have good communication habits, to begin with. Divorce can make communication even more complicated. Counseling for divorce can help you to acquire the abilities necessary to navigate challenging conversations and decisions successfully.¹

Common causes of divorce include:²

• Lack of commitment
• Intimacy issues
• Infidelity
• Conflict/arguing
• Domestic violence
• Substance abuse
• Financial issues
• Marrying too young

Divorce therapy includes pre-divorce and post-divorce counseling.

Pre-Divorce Counseling vs. Post-Divorce Counseling

Pre-divorce counseling is also often known as discernment counseling. It’s for couples who are getting ready to divorce or who have not yet made a decision to divorce. It can assist a couple in deciding if divorce is the best course of action or in navigating the initial phases after that choice is made. If you have children, it is crucial that you discuss the divorce with them and try to resolve conflicts amicably and politely to lessen the adverse effects.

Pre-divorce counseling is also often known as discernment counseling. It’s for couples who are getting ready to divorce or who have not yet made a decision to divorce. It can assist a couple in deciding if divorce is the best course of action or in navigating the initial phases after that choice is made. Discernment counseling is brief and structured, typically 1-5 sessions, and the goal isn’t to save the marriage or end it; it’s to help you reach a clear, confident decision [4]. If you’re leaning toward repair, couples counseling or marriage counseling may be the better starting point. If you have children, it is crucial that you discuss the divorce with them and try to resolve conflicts amicably and politely to lessen the adverse effects. 

Post-divorce counseling is primarily for former partners who have already gone through a divorce. Even after a divorce is official, there will still be arguments and hurt feelings. Post-divorce counseling can assist you in managing this change and the surrounding emotions. It can also assist with managing any issues that emerge after the divorce, such as post-divorce depression. It can even help you develop coping mechanisms to use with your children.[3] 

Signs Divorce Counseling May Be Right for You

Divorce may become possible for one or both partners when you disagree more than you agree or when other issues become recurring disruptive patterns of unresolved conflict. When the grief of the divorce becomes too much for you to bear alone, seeking divorce counseling is a crucial step in self-care. This is particularly valid if you have children.

Every couple is unique, and most relationship difficulties can be addressed if love and commitment exist.⁴ Nonetheless, below are typical signs that counseling for divorce may be right for you:

• Changes to your sleeping patterns
• Reduced interest in activities that usually make you happy
• Reduced energy and drive, making it challenging to complete things
• Having trouble concentrating and being present
• Changes in weight or appetite
• Contemplating injuring yourself
• Frequent and erratic arguments
• Substantial changes in mood (including an increase in anger, depression, and anxiety)
• Feelings of hatred toward oneself
• Experiencing disappointment in yourself
• Considering yourself unworthy of pleasure or love
• Career or education is negatively affected

If you’re having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline right now. It’s free and available 24/7. 

While each of the above is a reasonable cause to seek a qualified mental health professional’s assistance, this is not a comprehensive list. You should, without a doubt, seek separation counseling if you and your partner feel that doing so would be beneficial during the trying period of the divorce process.

Insurance may be able to help cover the cost of therapy.

Athena Care is in-network with most major insurance plans. Find out more about your insurance coverage by calling your insurance company or contacting Athena Care at 877-641-1155.

What is the Process of Divorce Counseling?

Some people may find it challenging to deal with the difficulties of going through a divorce, and making plans for the future can be particularly difficult. You will have to deal with the material and emotional sides of the marriage ending throughout the various stages of divorce.

There may or may not be pressure on you to be vulnerable with those around you. As a result, negative emotions can run high during the divorce process. When going through a divorce, many people cycle through waves of denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance, though real grief rarely moves through them in a straight line. 

Every therapy session starts with an assessment phase before treatment. If you’re looking for individual divorce therapy, you can anticipate that the therapist will spend the first session getting to know you, reviewing any necessary paperwork, and discussing your goals. A qualified marriage and family therapist should also be willing to answer your questions and reveal information about themselves. Then, you’ll discuss the next steps. Expect a similar process if you and your former partner attend divorce counseling together.

Counseling for divorce typically entails you and your spouse or former partner meeting in the counselor’s office to discuss any issues with your divorce proceedings. The divorce therapist serves as a mediator. Your therapist won’t make any decisions for you; instead, they’ll offer guidance and support while you and your current or former partner make your own decisions. Pre- and post-divorce counseling provides safe spaces to work through concerns with a licensed therapist who will guide you through any obstacles, ensuring the mediation remains respectful.

Helping you recognize, address, process, and deal with various challenges is the primary goal of counseling for divorce. The following are some of pre- and post-divorce counseling’s main benefits:

• Handle any unpleasant feelings that may surface, such as grief, depression, or anger
• Navigate and understand the legal process
• Create healthy coping strategies and routines to handle future challenges
• Be communicative and cooperative with your spouse both during and after the divorce
• Recognize and understand the reasons the relationship ended and acknowledge your part in it

Medications may be prescribed if one or both parties in the divorce process are experiencing a coinciding disorder such as anxiety or depression. It’s important to note that if children are involved in a custody dispute, every custody dispute in Tennessee involves the parents’ emotional well-being. 

The judge will evaluate each parent’s mental state and capacity to give a child the most secure environment. The overriding goal in every custody dispute is to identify a parenting arrangement that best meets the child’s interests. Seeking support during this time isn’t a mark against you; it shows you’re taking care of yourself so you can take care of your kids. 

Online divorce counseling in Tennessee 

Divorce schedules are chaotic: court dates, kid handoffs, sometimes a new city. Athena Care offers telehealth sessions statewide, so you can keep your counseling consistent even when the rest of life isn’t. Online divorce counseling works well for individual sessions and for co-parenting conversations when meeting in the same room isn’t practical, or preferable. 

Treatment for Divorce: How Therapy Helps You Heal 

There’s no single “divorce therapy” protocol, and that’s a good thing. Treatment for divorce-related distress is built around what you’re actually experiencing.[5] Depending on your situation, it may include: 

• Individual therapy to process grief, anger, and identity change. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps when thoughts spiral into self-blame, and interpersonal therapy (IPT) was built specifically for depression tied to role transitions like divorce. 

• Trauma-focused therapy, such as EMDR, when betrayal, an abusive relationship, or a traumatic ending is part of the story. 

• Couples or co-parenting sessions with your former partner to reduce conflict and build a functional working relationship, especially around kids. 

• Family counseling to help everyone adjust (more on family counseling here). 

• Psychiatry and medication management when depression or anxiety comes along with the divorce and therapy alone isn’t enough (learn about medication management). 

Helping children and your family through a divorce 

Here’s the most reassuring finding in the research: kids’ long-term adjustment after divorce depends less on the divorce itself and more on how much conflict they’re exposed to and how well their parents support them through it.[3] That’s something you can influence, starting now. Counseling helps you manage conflict and communicate with your kids in age-appropriate ways, family counseling gives the whole household a place to process the change together, and child-focused therapy gives your kids their own space with someone who isn’t Mom or Dad. 

Divorce Therapy Costs & Insurance Coverage

Divorce therapy costs vary depending on factors such as your location and whether or not you’re attending separation counseling alone or with your (ex)partner. In addition, whether or not you have insurance and what type of plan can also affect the final cost of divorce therapy in Tennessee.

Insurance often covers individual therapy as long as your therapist can specify a mental health issue, like depression or anxiety. If you visit a provider who accepts your insurance, your cost is set by your plan’s copay and deductible rather than by the therapy type. 

Most of the time, insurance won’t cover divorce therapy you receive with your former partner, so you’ll have to pay out-of-pocket. This is because insurance typically only covers the treatment of diagnosed illnesses. As a result, the cost of divorce therapy will likely be the same as marriage counseling, usually between $100 and $250 a session, with an average fee of $150.

It may be possible to find a provider that charges on a sliding scale basis, a fee determined by your income.

Athena Care has multiple counseling clinics throughout Tennessee. We are also in-network with most major insurance plans. Therefore, filling out our free and confidential online insurance verification form is the best way to obtain all the information needed to begin counseling for divorce.

Allow our highly experienced, knowledgeable care coordinators to handle the challenges of contacting your insurance carrier for more information about your coverage. After submitting the no-obligation form, a care coordinator will review your policy and explain your options. Any information you provide or discuss will remain confidential.

Despite the potential costs that divorce therapy may incur, counseling has many benefits, including improving your family’s overall emotional and mental well-being, now and in the future.

Divorce Therapy Treatment Success & Outlook

You can choose how long you attend counseling based on your needs and when you feel you’ve reached your goals. However, divorce counseling is typically regarded as a short-term treatment. Pre-divorce counseling, in particular, may last up to only five sessions. The duration of therapy varies from couple to couple and individual to individual. In addition, it can be impacted by things like co-occurring illnesses like depression.

With that in mind, however, there are some clear signs that the therapy process is working for you:

• You look forward to your sessions.
• You’re applying the skills you learn inside the sessions to outside situations.
• You’re more focused on the “now” than the past or the future.
• You’re taking responsibility for your role in the marriage’s demise.
• You may feel notably worse before you begin feeling better.

Divorce counseling has been extensively researched, and the success rates and outcomes are promising. For example, in one particular study on discernment, or pre-divorce counseling, the data on the participants’ experiences revealed three main elements. The first and most frequently claimed element was the ability to establish clarity and honesty. The second and third elements were appreciating divorce therapy’s structure and cooperating as co-parents after a divorce.[vii]

Frequently asked questions 

What is divorce counseling? 

Divorce counseling is therapy that helps you navigate the emotions and decisions that come with ending a marriage. It can happen before a final decision (discernment counseling), during the divorce process, or after it’s final, and you can attend individually or with your spouse or former partner. 

What is the difference between divorce counseling and marriage counseling? 

Marriage or couples counseling works to repair and strengthen the relationship. Divorce counseling helps you decide whether to divorce, navigate the process with less conflict, or heal and co-parent afterward. Discernment counseling sits between the 2, helping couples reach a clear decision before committing to either path. 

Does insurance cover divorce counseling? 

Often, yes, for individual therapy: insurance typically covers sessions when a provider is treating a mental health condition, like depression, anxiety, or an adjustment disorder. Joint sessions with a spouse or former partner are usually self-pay because divorce itself isn’t a medical diagnosis. Athena Care is in-network with most major plans, and our care coordinators will verify your benefits for free. 

How long does divorce counseling take? 

It’s usually short-term. Discernment counseling typically runs 1-5 sessions, and many people work through divorce-related grief in a few months of weekly therapy. If depression or anxiety is part of the picture, your therapist may recommend a longer course. 

What is discernment counseling? 

Discernment counseling is a brief, structured form of pre-divorce counseling for couples where 1 or both partners are unsure whether to stay or go. The goal isn’t to save the marriage or end it; it’s to help you reach a clear, confident decision, typically within 1-5 sessions. 

Can divorce counseling help my children? 

Yes. Research consistently shows kids adjust better when parents manage conflict and communicate well through a divorce, and counseling helps you do both. Family counseling and child-focused therapy also give your kids their own space to process the change. 

Does Athena Care offer divorce counseling in Tennessee? 

Yes. Athena Care offers individual, couples and family therapy and many of our care providers can help people with divorce counseling.

 7 locations across Tennessee, including Nashville, Franklin, Murfreesboro, Hendersonville, Clarksville, Memphis, and Knoxville, e and by telehealth statewide. For current availability, call or text 1-855-390-4357, Monday-Friday, 7am-6pm, and a care coordinator will verify your insurance and match you with the right provider.