Collaborative Practitioner
The Collaborative Divorce process constitutes a Paradigm Shift in the way families experience divorce. The world understands the outcome of litigation in which families are, in many ways, destroyed emotionally and financially. For families with children the goals of the Collaborative process is to identify and address the needs of the children. This is accomplished through the assistance of a Neutral Child Specialist. When couples divorce it becomes necessary to consciously redefine their relationship as it relates to their continued familial relationship or the co-parenting of their children.
Following are descriptions of the roles as Neutral Coach and Neutral Child Specialist as members of the Collaborative Divorce Team.
Neutral Coach
The Neutral Coach is a licensed mental health professional who accompanies the divorcing couple through the process of the divorce. This process generally begins with the Coach and clients meeting together followed by individual meetings. These meetings allow the Neutral Coach to gain an understanding of their client(s), as well as, their clients interactions with each other. After these initial meetings the Neutral Coach continues to work with the client(s) as needed individually or with other members of the team such as the attorneys or financial planners.
The Collaborative Divorce process is a transparent process in which the agreement allows all team members to interact with each other in the best interest of the couple/family.
A Neutral Coach can help you:
- implement respectful communication.
- cope with the emotional pain and grief.
- remain focused on the process.
- identify behaviors that may impede effective communication with the other spouse.
- identify if you are emotionally stuck.
- identify your triggers.
- channel your anger appropriately, as well as, manage the anxiety and stress of the process.
- If there are children:
- begin the initial steps to a healthy/effective co-parenting relationship by separating personal issues from co- parenting issues.
- articulate choices that are in the best interest of the child(ren) .
Neutral Child Specialist
A Neutral Child Specialist is a licensed professional with a background in child development, child and adolescent mental health and family systems issues. His/Her role is to provide neutral assessment of and advocacy for the needs of the children. As issues emerge during the divorce process both the parents and the children may choose to use the Neutral Child Specialist as a resource for information and recommendations about helping the children through the divorce process. This is not a replacement for therapy. If therapy is thought to be needed that recommendation will be made.
The roles as Neutral Coach and Neutral Child Specialist, as it relates to the Collaborative process, are distinct from psychotherapy or psychological evaluation and therefore not reimbursable by health care insurance.
Dr. Eaton is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with a specialty in co-parenting relationships following divorce. She has several years of experience working in the court system with families in the divorce process and has conducted research in this area.
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