Stay or Go is a structured three-session discernment counseling program for couples stuck at the hardest question in any marriage — should we stay together or separate. The program is based on the Doherty protocol developed by Dr. William Doherty at the University of Minnesota, and it is specifically designed for couples where one partner is leaning toward leaving while the other is still fighting for the relationship. This is not a program that will pressure either partner in either direction. It is structured, neutral, clinically sound decision-making work with a defined endpoint.

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Most couples who reach out for this program have been stuck in the same painful ambivalence for months or years. One partner has quietly been considering leaving. The other has been hoping things will turn around. Traditional couples therapy often does not serve couples in this position because it presumes both partners are committed to the work of repair. Stay or Go is different. It is a decision-making program. At the end of three sessions, most couples have clarity about one of three paths — committing to the repair work of couples therapy, accepting the end of the marriage with dignity, or continuing to explore with a clear next step in mind.

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The program is compact and focused. It includes a 2-hour joint intake session with individual time for each partner built in, plus two follow-up sessions. Delivered in-person in Golden, Colorado, just off I-70, or via secure telehealth anywhere in Colorado. Dr. John O'Malley, PhD, LPC, NCC, trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy and has worked with discernment couples throughout the Colorado foothills for more than fifteen years.