Divorce Coaches Academy Tracy Callahan and Debra Doak

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It’s well known that divorce can be one of the most stressful life events our clients will experience. And we’ve talked extensively about how fear escalates cost and conflict. But there’s a secret ingredient that can make the process even more difficult and more expensive … and that’s trauma.

Today we are going to give you some insight into working with clients experiencing PTSD or post traumatic spouse disorder. No, that’s not a real DSM diagnosis, but it is a condition that can affect people who go through extremely contentious divorces.

According to psycholoogytoday.com, “The word 'trauma' literally means wound, shock, or injury".  Studies have found that following relationship dissolution, many people manifest symptoms similar to those experienced by people who have survived highly stressful situations.

This means that in some cases, those who experience divorce could experience true PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms similar to those who have experienced military combat, natural disasters, sexual assault, or other life-threatening events.

Coaching a client in trauma presents some extra challenges because their alarm system is going off and when we feel threatened, it’s hard to have the same level of self-awareness or decision making skills.

Listen in as Tracy and Debra discuss types of trauma, trauma responses, trauma recovery, and strategies for supporting clients struggling with PTSD.


Learn more about DCA® or  any of the classes or events mentioned in this episode at the links below:

Website: www.divorcecoachesacademy.com
Instagram: @divorcecoachesacademy
LinkedIn: divorce-coaches-academy
Email: DCA@divorcecoachesacademy.com

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Couples facing challenges or difficulties in their marriage have traditionally turned to couples counseling or marriage therapy for help. And we often hear from clients who are now deciding whether to stay or go that they found the experience of couples counseling to be quite frustrating with lots of blame and finger pointing and little to no resolution of the issues at hand. But what if married couples had another choice? 
Enter Marital Mediation. 

While both couples counseling and marital mediation share the overarching goal of promoting healthier, more harmonious relationships, they differ significantly in their approaches, methodologies, and intended outcomes.

Couples counseling focuses on exploring and understanding relational dynamics, emotions, and patterns of interaction. Therapists in couples counseling often adopt a more directive or interventionist stance, offering guidance, feedback, and psycho-education to promote positive change.

Marital mediation, by contrast, emphasizes practical problem-solving and negotiation skills. Mediators in marital mediation maintain a neutral stance, refraining from offering advice or solutions. Instead, they facilitate dialogue, negotiation, and problem-solving, empowering couples to generate their own solutions and agreements.

As ADR modalities and processes are becoming more commonly used by families in conflict, we are seeing an expansion of the practice of marital mediation or couples mediation. By offering couples a future focused, problem solving approach, we hope to be able to create agreements that allow the couple to navigate conflict and remain in relationship.


Learn more about DCA® or  any of the classes or events mentioned in this episode at the links below:

Website: www.divorcecoachesacademy.com
Instagram: @divorcecoachesacademy
LinkedIn: divorce-coaches-academy
Email: DCA@divorcecoachesacademy.com

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Financial worries are at the top of most everyone’s list when it comes to divorce and one common concern we hear from clients is how much it’s going to cost to get divorced. So in this episode we’re diving into not just how much divorce costs, but the factors that can influence it and how we can work with clients to keep their costs down.

IBISWorld reports that revenue for the Family Law and Divorce Attorney sector is expected to be $12.9 billion for 2023. Whoa! That is a load of money that’s moving from our clients’ bank accounts to pay for the services of divorce professionals. Now we’re not saying that attorneys aren’t worth what they charge - competent legal advice is priceless.
But we are saying that individuals and couples have a lot more influence over the cost of their divorce than they realize. And as most things in divorce and co-parenting, it comes down to how they manage conflict and their decision making.

Listen in as we unpack all the costs that go into divorce, talk about how considering a divorce budget can help clients make strategic decisions, discuss the factors that influence whether our client has a Kia divorce or a Lamborghini divorce, and offer some tools and strategies for staying within their budget goals.

Join Us Now: Save Your Sanity Divorce Summit


Learn more about DCA® or  any of the classes or events mentioned in this episode at the links below:

Website: www.divorcecoachesacademy.com
Instagram: @divorcecoachesacademy
LinkedIn: divorce-coaches-academy
Email: DCA@divorcecoachesacademy.com

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There's a big difference between being a victim (having been harmed) and adopting a victim mentality. And the difference relates to how an individual responds to adversity. In this episode Tracy and Debra explore the 6 ways a  victim mentality can impact how individuals perceive and respond to conflicts. 

So, why is it so important to address victim mentality when working with clients? Because victim mentality can escalate conflict, can leave individuals feeling powerless and helpless, and can prolong the healing process and hinder emotional well-being. 

But they also share 9 tips for helping clients break free of this mentality so they can can experience greater emotional resilience, acceptance, and inner peace during and after the divorce process.
It's important to recognize that overcoming victim mentality is a journey, not a destination. Even with the best support, It requires a ton of self-reflection, courage, and a willingness for our clients to challenge their own beliefs and perceptions. Yet, by acknowledging their own agency and  responsibility for their own thoughts, feelings, and actions, clients can break free from the cycle of victimhood and reclaim their power to shape their divorce, minimize conflict, support productive co-parenting relationships, and see the possibilities for their new future.

And don't forget to register for the FREE Save Your Sanity Divorce Summit that kicks off on Monday, April 22. We've gathered more than 25 professional divorce coaches to help you protect your mental health,  your bank account or and your future.

Sign up now: Save Your Sanity Divorce Summit


Learn more about DCA® or  any of the classes or events mentioned in this episode at the links below:

Website: www.divorcecoachesacademy.com
Instagram: @divorcecoachesacademy
LinkedIn: divorce-coaches-academy
Email: DCA@divorcecoachesacademy.com

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Co-parent communication can be one of the biggest challenges both during and after divorce. Co-parenting apps are a lifesaver for many partners who have difficulty in communicating about or making decisions regarding their children.

This week we had the pleasure of hosting Stephen Nixon, the Founder of TalkingParents, on the podcast to talk about the reasons you might want to introduce a co-parenting app to your clients or your co-parent.

Co-parenting apps like TalkingParents can significantly reduce conflict, streamline communication, save money, and protect your peace. And if you're in a particularly conflicted co-parenting relationship, simply using a tool like TalkingParents can increase accountability and have a positive impact on your partner's communication.

Listen in to learn more about why introducing a co-parenting app to your clients or your partner might be the best decision you make.

And don't forget to register for the upcoming FREE Save Your Sanity Divorce Summit presented by DCA. We've gathered more than 25 professional divorce coaches to help you protect your mental health,  your bank account or and your future.

Sign up now: Save Your Sanity Divorce Summit

Want to find out more about TalkingParents:
Website: www.talkingparents.com
Professional Website: www.legal.talkingparents.com
Facebook: talkingparents
Instagram: talkingparentsapp
YouTube: TalkingParentsApp


Learn more about DCA® or  any of the classes or events mentioned in this episode at the links below:

Website: www.divorcecoachesacademy.com
Instagram: @divorcecoachesacademy
LinkedIn: divorce-coaches-academy
Email: DCA@divorcecoachesacademy.com

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We can’t believe it’s finally time to share this news. We’ve been working behind the scenes for months to get ready to present this incredible event and now we get to announce it to the world. Registration is now open for the Free Save Your Sanity Divorce Summit - the first ever online event featuring 27 professional certified divorce coaches. It’s our dream, honestly, and it’s happening April 22nd through the 26th.

This thing is big - it’s 5 full days and includes 25 individual talks given by DCA trained coaches covering 6 topic areas including preparing for divorce, co-parenting and custody, conflict and safety, emotional wellness, legal and financial decision making and recovery after divorce.

The main message of the Summit is “Divorce doesn’t have to wreck your mental health, empty your bank account or derail your future”.  We want attendees to take away practical tips to help them experience divorce and co-parenting in a way that puts less stress on their bank account and their personal wellness. And we hope they learn that working with a DCA trained divorce coach is the key to saving their sanity and their money.

And did we mention that it’s FREE? It’s absolutely zero cost to register and attend any speaker talk on the schedule. There is an option to upgrade to a VIP ticket for just $49 which will provide exclusive access to the VIP panel discussions, allow you to watch replays of all the talks for 30 days, and enter you to win some extra prizes.

Sign up now: Save Your Sanity Divorce Summit


Learn more about DCA® or  any of the classes or events mentioned in this episode at the links below:

Website: www.divorcecoachesacademy.com
Instagram: @divorcecoachesacademy
LinkedIn: divorce-coaches-academy
Email: DCA@divorcecoachesacademy.com