A collaborative coach assists you in coming up with effective strategies to deal with one or more of the following which are common challenges for people going through divorce or divorce-related situations:
(1) stress;
(2) managing emotions;
(3) anger or other emotional reactions that interfere with participating in the settlement process in your own best interests;
(4) communication skills; and
(5) parenting styles.
Our coaches do not evaluate or report. Their role is to support you in whatever way you need to make the best use of the divorce process, whether it be collaborative or otherwise.
In a collaborative divorce, you will have your own coach and the other participant will have a coach. The coaches work individually with you to prepare you to mediate a settlement based on interests, needs, concerns and goals. Four-way meetings are conducted with you, the other participant and the coaches as often as needed. These four-way meetings are very similar to a mediation session, however, they are not confidential and the coaches and participants are free to discuss what goes on with their attorneys and any other professionals involved. Your coach is your ally and someone who is there to support you in communicating your needs, interests, goals and concerns and those of your children, if children are involved.
When you have legal issues to resolve, you will have four-way meetings with your attorneys. Coaches typically do not participate in four-way meetings with attorneys and attorneys typically do not participate in four-way meetings with coaches. However, one of the valuable aspects of collaborative divorce is the flexibility to put together the professionals and team model that works for you.