I recently read an interesting article on The Globe and Mail titled “A divorce coach could offer a calming perspective”. The article describes the growing phenomenon of using “divorce coaches” or “divorce doulas” to emotionally assist clients in their divorce and separation. It notes that clients are often better prepared with their meetings with lawyers after utilizing the services of divorce doulas or coaches.
While seemingly a new phenomenon, divorce coaches and doulas have been used in the collaborative process for many years. Even more importantly, when client engage in a collaborative process to settle their affairs, the lawyers for both spouses work on a team with divorce coaches and financial neutrals. The “team” aspects should be double highlighted because it can make all the difference. In a team approach, all the professionals communicate with each other to help their clients reach mutual goals. It allows team members to speak with each other about areas of difficulty one or both parties may face. All team members work collaboratively to deal with emotional and financial issues that may prevent both parties from reaching a settlement.
While divorce coaches and divorce doulas are effective on their own, they can be doubly more so with a team. They can also help keep parties from proceeding to court by keeping emotions down and allowing parties to enter into negotiations with a productive frame of mind.
If you are interested in working with a divorce coach, it may be a good idea for you to speak with a collaborative law professional to determine whether that process would work for you.
Comments are closed.