Yelling, screaming, agonizing, ugly…… just some of the words that come to mind when people think about moving forward with a divorce.
But what if I told you instead that the words to describe divorce could be: mutual, working together, respect?
You might think I am crazy but divorce described this way is possible with Collaborative Divorce.
I know as a therapist that divorce is going to be emotionally challenging, but what I also know, as a coach, is that divorce doesn’t have to be hurtful. Collaborative Divorce offers clients the ability to come together in a mutually respectful way and find solutions that work for their family.
One of the best things about Collaborative Divorce is that it is not just a standard cookie cutter approach; it is truly two people working together — not to give each other one more jab, but rather to reach a customized outcome that mutually supports them both.
Acknowledging difficult feelings and discovering what is important – not just to you but also to your soon-to-be ex-spouse — can be hard but also healing. Collaborative Divorce offers the space to leave your current relationship while maintaining dignity and feeling empowered. It offers couples the space to come to mutual agreements regarding all aspects of their ending marriage.
I refer people to the Collaborative Approach because it works. Going to court works too but when was the last time you met a person who left court feeling good about it?
Probably almost never.
Will Collaborative Divorce make you friends with your soon-to-be ex? Maybe not.
Will it leave you feeling worn out and exhausted and angry? No.
Is it my preferred method for clients seeking divorce? Most definitely yes.
About the Blogger:
Katelyn Baxter-Musser, LCSW received her MSW from Arizona State University and her BA in psychology with a Minor in criminal justice from American University in Washington D.C. Katelyn has been in private practice in Maine since 2015 and prior to that lived in Arizona where she maintained her private practice and was a supervisor for a local mental health agency. Katelyn is a Certified Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapist and has extensive training in working with individuals, couples, and families who have experienced trauma. Katelyn was trained in Collaborative Law in 2017 and practices both collaborative law coaching and mediation. Katelyn takes a solution-focused approach to help clients identify their needs, find their voice, and develop communication skills to use long after divorce has ended.