How a Communications Coach Can Make Divorce a Little Bit Easier
Is the Collaborative Divorce Process Right for You?
Divorce is difficult, but it doesn't have to be destructive. In the past, divorce has been dealt with in the courtroom. Spouses are encouraged to focus on everything that is wrong with their partner in order to get a better settlement for themselves. The problem with this method is that it destroys everything that has been built in the marriage, whether assets or family member's trust. But there is an alternative, it's known as collaborative law.
Collaborative Law
The function of collaborative law is to help disputing parties find solutions that leave both relationships and assets in tact as much as possible. That may not seem feasible, after all, the parties are divorcing; but let's take a look at how it works.
The process begins with a facilitator that is trained in communications. They have two main focuses: to keep the process moving and to teach clients different ways of communicating.
Valuable time and resources are wasted when the litigation process stalls. The facilitator's job is to meet with each person involved (clients, lawyers, financial advisers, etc), to understand their goals and keep the process moving forward.
The second goal of a communications coach is to teach the disputing parties new ways to communicate with each other. This is important because clients who continue using the same communication techniques will get bogged down in the same arguments over and over.
The goals of Collaborative Law are:
Helping parents reduce conflict and encouraging positive co-parenting
Maintaining an atmosphere of respect
Working together to solve problems and focus on the future
Finding common goals in dispute settlement
Focusing on the family’s needs
Establishing an amicable relationship
The Collaborative Law process is an alternative to litigation. It helps partners resolve conflict and reach a settlement in a respectful and dignified way; which means that it works with any dispute, not just in cases of divorce.
