There is hope after a divorce. The way the divorce is managed contributes to what your post-divorce life could be. The traditional litigated divorce dehumanizes you and keeps you in an adversarial position. Whereas, the collaborative divorce empowers you during what could be a challenging and painful time.
With a team of supportive professionals (collaborative lawyers, divorce coaches, child specialists, and financial specialists) you and your spouse/partner pledge not to go to court, practice an honest, open exchange of information, and determine joint solutions that take into account both of your needs and your child (children) needs. As your divorce coach, I assist you through the collaborative process, provide you support through your emotional turmoil, and help you define your present and future goals.
▪ Sort out difficult feelings and listen to your story
▪ Anticipate emotionally charged issues
▪ Manage emotions during interest-based negotiations
▪ Identify strengths and weaknesses
▪ Teach how to interact and communicate in a respectful manner
▪ Help develop effective co-parenting skills
▪ Increase effective communication and conflict resolution skills
▪ You and your partner control the process
▪ You and your partner create the timetable
▪ Mutual respect and openness discourages an adversarial system
▪ No court involvement so dispute does not become a matter of public record
▪ Team of professionals assist in transition of new family structure
▪ Joint access to specialist for guidance
▪ Team remains accessible post-divorce
▪ Be clear about why you want collaborative
▪ Anticipate your spouse/partner becoming defensive about your research
▪ Be willing to listen
▪ Avoid talk about a settlement proposal, stick with the process choices
▪ Meet in a public place with separate transportation
▪ Consider recruiting a neutral friend, counselor, rabbi, minister, or the like
