The Role of a Divorce Coach in a Maryland Collaborative Divorce

You could be experiencing a range of emotions about your divorce. You could feel unhappiness, guilt, confusion, or anger. This is a natural part of divorce. A collaborative divorce has several benefits. First, you and the other party control the course of your divorce. The divorce agreement is unique to you and your family circumstances. Second, the collaborative process leads to a resolution of difficult issues in an efficient and an emotionally healthy way. Third, a network of team professionals and experts guide you and the other party from the beginning to the end of your divorce, while you acquire useful skills for your post-divorce life.

The dynamics which contributed to the ending of your marriage are replicated during the divorce process. A component of the role of a divorce coach is to keep the intense emotions from obstructing the collaborative process and the vision of your divorce. You will learn conflict resolution skills, self-management skills, and appropriate communication skills.  

For example, in my practice, you and I meet prior to team meetings with the other party and the collaborative divorce attorneys. This serves several purposes. First, I inform you about the framework of the collaborative model and about how our coaching relationship is utilized. Second, this provides an opportunity for me to hear your story and to gain an understanding of your experience. Third, I assist you in anticipating emotions that may emerge when difficult issues are addressed in the team meetings. In addition, you identify useful strengths which could enhance the process. Finally, you discuss the long-term goals of your divorce. We continue to meet until you believe you are prepared for the first team meeting. 

You and the other party will work to identify and prioritize concerns of each person. You both will work to develop co-parenting skills and to create a parenting plan. You should continue to foster the improvement of communication – ultimately decreasing the conflict and the negative emotions. When the collaborative process is successfully completed, you and your former spouse experience less distress and a better post-divorce relationship with the new skills that were acquired during the settlement discussions.