Collaborative Divorce..... Coming from Choice In Divorce

     Dr. Todd is a collaboratively trained mental health Divorce Coach and child specialist.  In a collaborative divorce, each spouse is represented by his or her own collaboratively trained attorney. Experts, such as a divorce coach, child expert, or financial divorce analyst, assist the divorcing couple and their attorneys to help resolve issues inherent in the divorce.  Many of the participating members are also certified mediators but all team members, including the attorney, are trained to work in a collaborative manner. The group as a whole contributes to creating a binding divorce agreement that is based on the best interests of the family or couple.

As a Child Specialist, Dr. Todd gives children a voice in the divorce and also assures them that the divorce is not their fault. With parents, she gives needed suggestions, such as describing the effects of various parenting styles on children. This helps to create a successful post-divorce parenting partnership. Dr. Todd educates parents on the developmental tasks that must be completed by children as they progress from infancy to young adults. She helps her clients resolve parenting issues such as: homework, unscheduled children’s events, step-parenting, etc. She teaches the children how to communicate with their parents effectively. She also assists them in coping with the emotional divorce issues. A major function that Dr. Todd provides is the development of visitation and co-parenting schedules. 

 As a Divorce Coach, Dr. Todd helps a couple to focus on improving communication around parenting concerns, and to improve the emotional climate within the family. During the divorce negotiating, Dr. Todd serves as a medium by which the couple can express their expectations and needs. When issues heat up, Dr. Todd is available for a client to ventilate negative emotions in a safe environment. She is available to help the client through the various stages of divorce including anger and grief. Dr. Todd’s services as divorce coach helps to provide needed support during the transition from one to two households, thus helping to provide the best chance of minimizing any long-term negative effects from the separation or divorce.