WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE COACH/MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL IN A COLLABORATIVE DIVORCE?

  1. To Be A Resource To The Clients
  • To offer empathy and containment for pain and loss
  • To normalize the client’s emotional experience
  • To support each party’s recognition of the humanity of the other
  • To manage expectations of the process
  • To help clients identify areas of psychological vulnerability
  • To teach clients effective, non-attacking, non-defensive modes of communication
  • To help clients identify their priorities and particular areas of concern
  1. To Be A Resource To The Process
  • To help attorneys understand their clients’ emotional “hot spots,” fears and concerns
  • To help attorneys understand marital dynamics and how they affect the process
  • To make real-time interventions to identify blocks to the process
  • To contribute to process efficiency by facilitating pacing of meetings, keeping the team organized and on track and ensuring that everyone is communicating effectively
  1. When the Divorcing Couple Has Minor Children, To Assist In Creating a Parenting Plan
  • To work with clients independently, saving time and money
  • To provide expertise in child development and the psychological impact of divorce on family members
  • To facilitate option development, help couples imagine the near and far futures, and normalize parents’ intense emotions to aid in thinking creatively
  • To help parents create a “shared narrative”