Well, you certainly don’t have to do this all by yourself; there is a lot of support available to help you get through your divorce, and the support this article discusses refers to support outside the legal profession.
For instance, there are divorce support groups everywhere—through your churches, hosted by therapists, singles groups, etc. Here’s some guidance and options for good divorce support groups.
There’s a new growing field of divorce coaches who are used to help people get through the process by supporting you, helping you make decisions based on what you really want and keeping you focused. You’re going through a terrible emotional process, and you’re probably not able to think too straight right now. Do you know what a coach does? Of course you do; just think of an athletic coach and apply this to how useful it could be helping you through your current situation. Make sure to select a coach who has had formal training in being a coach and could also be a therapist or mental health professional. Here are some links to finding coaches: Worldwide Association of Business Coaches (WABC), International Coaching Council (ICC), the International Coach Federation (ICF), the International Association of Coaching (IAC), the Certified Coaches Federation (CCF), the European Coaching Institute (ECI) and the International Guild of Coaches (IGC).
Perhaps you already have a therapist or think that you might need one. Therapists are great support to help you through this process. One thing to consider if you’re thinking of using a therapist is: are you certain that divorce is the only solution? If so, then make sure that you choose a therapist who is trained in helping people go through a divorce. I have found that many therapists focus on keeping the marriage together, so if you’re sure that divorce is the only answer, then select accordingly. A good referral source is to use someone recommended by a friend who used the therapist to help them through their divorce.
Are you confused by your finances and all the numbers being thrown around. There’s a new profession, called Divorce Financial Planners, who can really help you figure out what to do if you’ll be lucky enough to have some assets after the process and/or if you have somewhat complicated financials to sort through. Here’s a good resource to find a Certified Divorce Financial Planner. Just make sure that you select someone who is well versed with running all the numbers for you. I have interviewed a couple of different Divorce Financial Planners, and found some who were really good and others who seemed more like an investment broker.
Some other divorce assistance resources you might need are:
- Independent Real Estate Appraiser
- Movers
- CPA’s
- Etc.
The author of this blog is not an attorney and the information contained in these blogs should not be considered legal advice. The information provided here is based on the experience of the author and some of her clients whose actual names are not mentioned. Do not hesitate to seek the advice of an attorney if you have any legal questions.
