Most peoples’ thoughts immediately turn first to divorce attorneys, but there is MUCH more to divorce than purely legal issues. Attorneys can help with a variety of things in a divorce but they don’t, for example, deal with the emotional piece. They aren’t usually trained in financial planning, they aren’t going to mediate for you, and it’s expensive to cry in their offices about things they have no control over.

It may seem “expensive” to hire a divorce coach, but the fact of the matter is that having someone guide you through the process and help you communicate and strategize with other divorce professionals will save you time and money in the long run, every time.

So what is a divorce coach?

The American Bar Association (ABA) defines divorce coaching as “a flexible, goal-oriented process designed to support, motivate, and guide people going through divorce to help them make the best possible decisions for their future, based on their particular interests, needs, and concerns”.

Divorce coaches can help a person gong through pre-divorce, divorce, and post-divorce issues. They can help reduce the amount of legal fees, help remove roadblocks and procrastination, and benefit clients in areas from emotion communication to organization and preparation. They act as an independent third party to provide guidance, encouragement, motivation, and support.

Coaches are professionals that have specialized training to help couples manage emotions, strengthen communication, facilitate conflict, and create plans to meet unique family needs. They can be a part of a collaborative divorce team, or can be also be used during mediated or litigated divorces.

Why Hire a Divorce Coach?

For most people, going through a divorce is an overwhelming, expensive, and traumatic experience. The emotional toll can be significant. People in divorce find themselves in ongoing “crisis mode”, unable to think clearly and prone to emotional dysregulation. A divorce coach can help you learn how to negotiate, how to support your children, how to prepare for life post-divorce, and can help fill in the gaps that an attorney cannot support you with.

As a collaboratively trained mediator with a specialization in high conflict divorces, I help couples and individuals communicate better, manage conflict, navigate strong emotions, and manage expectations. Many people who forgo a divorce coach find their emotions play out in intense conflict that increases the emotional and financial cost of divorce.

What Liz provides as a divorce coach:

• I will walk you through the process, step by step.
• I’ll support and prepare you so you aren’t blindsided by surprises.
• I’ll help you make a plan for co-parenting, create a parenting plan, and envision your life post-divorce
• I can help you manage your emotions and feelings so that they don’t interfere with negotiations.
• I can help prepare you for mediation and improve your negotiation skills
• I can help you improve your communication skills so that you can reduce conflict

• I can help you improve your communication skills so that you can reduce conflict

• I’ll help you set goals and realistic expectations /span>

If you’re interested in learning more, contact me today to arrange a free 30 minute strategy session. I’ll help you clarify your issues and create an action plan for moving forward.