Nebraska Collaborative Divorce:
Nebraska collaborative divorce is an alternative method for couples facing divorce. In collaborative divorce, spouses are empowered to resolve all matters without court intervention. Collaborative law uses specially trained and skilled professionals to reach fair solutions and resolve issues, while avoiding the cost, time, and uncertainties of litigation.
For example, in collaborative law, the parties focus on achieving a fair and equitable settlement. The process encourages and supports you through the process of jointly restructuring your family. One benefit of Nebraska collaborative divorce is that it is a client-centered and solution-orientated process that leverages the expertise of professionals to address the legal, emotional, and financial needs of the parties and their children.
Rather than having a judge decide the contested issues in a divorce, such as custody or property division, in collaborative divorce, you commit to negotiating a mutually acceptable and sustainable solution to all issues without court intervention.
In a collaborative divorce case, you will work with a team of specially trained collaborative professionals to guide you through the divorce process. Each collaborative team will be comprised of two attorneys and two mental health professionals, called divorce coaches. The team can also include a child specialist and a financial specialist.
Child Specialist Services within the Nebraska Collaborative Divorce Process:
The Child Specialist is a neutral party in the Collaborative Divorce process and provides insight into the experience of the children in coping with the divorce. A Child Specialist is essentially the professional that brings forth children's voices; their concerns, hopes, wishes, fears, and their unique view of what is happening for them as well as their perspective on what is happening in their family.
The Child Specialist is not a custody evaluator, nor do they make recommendations. However, the Child Specialist provides information about child development and divorce. For young children, the Child Specialist may act as a spokesperson, while for older children, the Child Specialist may help them articulate their feelings and wishes directly.
The Child Specialist assists parents in developing an appropriate parenting plan that will be in the best interests of the child(ren), helps address the parents’ goals for their children so they are represented within the parenting plan, and also helps educate and guide the parents into having the healthiest co-parenting relationship possible.
Typically, the Child Specialist does not provide ongoing therapy, but is there to answer any questions the family as a whole may have as they process through the challenges involved in the divorce transition.
Coaching Services within the Nebraska Collaborative Divorce Process:
A Collaborative Divorce Coach is a licensed mental health professional who has experience in issues related to separation, divorce and remarriage. The coach has training and expertise in family dynamics, communication skills, mediation, and the collaborative law process. This background enables the coach to help one or both members of a divorcing couple deal with the emotional and psychological challenges of their divorce. Although the coach uses therapeutic skills, the coach does not function as a therapist in this role.
For most people, getting divorced involves loss on many levels. These can include loss of control, loss of a dream, loss of trust, loss of stability, loss of a best friend, loss of financial security, loss of connection to shared friends and community, and loss of identity as a married person, among others. Powerful feelings of anger and grief as well as anxious thoughts about the future are normal. Communication can be difficult. Many people feel ruled by their emotions and that can keep them from making sound decisions.
A coach can help you…
Coaches are trained to teach you and your spouse helpful communication and self-management skills which are necessary in your settlement discussions, and in your post-divorce co-parenting if applicable. Strategies for communication around decision making and problem solving are critical to ensuring that your needs and interests are clearly expressed. Coaches help by identifying the underlying needs and wants, to facilitate the negotiations; by teaching co-parenting skills; by teaching and modeling communication skills, problem-solving skills; by helping you develop a roadmap for future relationships within the new family structure; and by being a resource into the future as issues arise.
Coaches help attorneys by providing an overview of the emotional issues which are affecting the clients’ behavior or position; by consulting when there is an impasse in the case; by providing a safe place for clients to deal with emotions and volatility during the legal process; by focusing on the interest and needs of the family as a whole; and by being the voice of the children or parent (if applicable) when necessary.
Contact our team to get an appointment scheduled and start your journey to better.
Woodhaven Counseling provides a wide range of services, dedicating our selves to our clients and their care.
