Divorce is not only a legal or financial dilemma. It is a whole life challenge that requires a client to make many decisions regarding themselves, their family, and their future. The dissolution of a marriage is an emotionally charged process that can be time consuming and difficult for all professionals working with clients in the process of ending their marriages. Many people overlook the impact feelings have on the divorce process and the importance of having the necessary professional support. Overwhelm leads to costly emotional and financial mistakes in divorce, which have long-term consequences for all parties involved. This is one of the many reasons that in 2013, the American Bar Association added Divorce Coaching to a list of alternative dispute resolutions. A divorce coach does not compete with an attorney, therapist, real estate agent, insurance broker, financial advisor, or parenting specialist. The skill sets of a divorce coach complement those of other professionals in the industry and help guide clients to make the best possible decisions for their future.
Many divorce professionals often feel stressed, exhausted, and overworked. By working with a divorce coach, productivity is enhanced leaving the other divorce professionals with less anxiety and more time. What makes partnering with them so worthwhile?
Divorce Coaches:
-Are highly trained goal-oriented and future focused professionals who understand the business and emotional side of divorce. They know the process, understand what the client will experience, and where the tough spots will be.
-Are a great referral source. Clients need services such as an attorney, therapist, real estate agent, insurance broker, financial advisor, or parenting specialist. Helping to create a strong team is beneficial for all parties involved.
-Can offer non-legal services like walking clients through the practicalities of divorce and providing emotional support to the client which allows the other professionals to focus on their area of expertise such as law, finance, real estate, insurance, or therapy.
-Can alert the client’s other professionals, if consent has been given, to any pertinent issues which assists in keeping the process moving.
-Can speed things up because they help clients process their anger, frustration, or hurt so that they can refocus their attention on the legal and business aspect of the divorce.
-Can accompany clients to meetings, mediations, or court hearings to take notes and provide emotional support, which enhances efficiency.
-Assist clients in gaining clarity regarding their needs and concerns so they have a purpose and a goal to reach every meeting.
-Foster credible and well-planned clients who are effective communicators so discussions are more focused, they can feel heard, and be a full participant in their divorce process.
-Help strategize and organize all of the information that needs to be collected for the other professionals.
-Brainstorm with clients so they make better decisions and are prepared for their meetings.
-Provide the emotional guidance to clients that many other divorce professionals frequently find extend beyond their areas of expertise. Clients are more productive, less temperamental, and make better decisions.
-Aid clients in making rational and logical choices. This assistance reduces anxiety, leads to less emails and voice messages, and intensifies listening skills.
-Reduce the need of clients to have other divorce professionals alleviate their fears of the unknown, problem solve daily issues, and hold their hand.
-Help clients learn skills and strategies to advocate for themselves with respect, dignity, and honor.
Divorce coaches are an invaluable resource to other divorce professionals. They prepare clients, one step at a time, to turn the emotional side of divorce into the business of divorce. With the guidance of a divorce coach, clients develop a strategic roadmap for the dissolution of their marriage, have help organizing for the process, and learn skills necessary to negotiate and to effectively communicate their needs, wants, and desires without being overwhelmed by their feelings. Together, divorce coaches and other divorce professionals share the same goal for their clients: To help them show up as their best selves, navigate efficiently through the divorce process with the least amount of emotional interference in their decision-making, gain insight, and create a life vision for themselves based on specific intensions. While achieving their clients ‘goals, divorce professionals who work with divorce coaches have clients who are more efficient, organized, and collected.