Surviving Burnout in the Divorce Process
By: Jennifer Warren Medwin, MS, CDC
Many divorce professionals are experiencing a significant increase in workplace stress along with their clients who are on an emotional rollercoaster.
Divorce is not only a legal or financial dilemma. It is a whole life challenge that requires a client to make many decisions regarding themselves, their family, and their future. The dissolution of a marriage is an emotionally charged process that can be time consuming and difficult for all professionals working with clients in the process of ending their marriages. Many people overlook the impact feelings have on the divorce process and the importance of having the necessary professional support. Overwhelm leads to costly emotional and financial mistakes in divorce, which have long-term consequences for all parties involved. This is one of the many reasons that in 2013, the American Bar Association added Divorce Coaching to a list of alternative dispute resolutions. A divorce coach does not compete with an attorney, therapist, real estate agent, insurance broker, financial advisor, or parenting specialist. The skill sets of a divorce coach complement those of other professionals in the industry and help guide clients to make the best possible decisions for their future.
Many divorce professionals often feel stressed, exhausted, and overworked. By working with a divorce coach, productivity is enhanced leaving the other divorce professionals with less anxiety and more time. What makes partnering with them so worthwhile?
Divorce Coaches:
-Are highly trained goal-oriented and future focused professionals who understand the business and emotional side of divorce. They know the process, understand what the client will experience, and where the tough spots will be.
-Are a great referral source. Clients need services such as an attorney, therapist, real estate agent, insurance broker, financial advisor, or parenting specialist. Helping to create a strong team is beneficial for all parties involved.
-Can offer non-legal services like walking clients through the practicalities of divorce and providing emotional support to the client which allows the other professionals to focus on their area of expertise such as law, finance, real estate, insurance, or therapy.
-Can alert the client’s other professionals, if consent has been given, to any pertinent issues which assists in keeping the process moving.
-Can speed things up because they help clients process their anger, frustration, or hurt so that they can refocus their attention on the legal and business aspect of the divorce.
-Can accompany clients to meetings, mediations, or court hearings to take notes and provide emotional support, which enhances efficiency.
-Assist clients in gaining clarity regarding their needs and concerns so they have a purpose and a goal to reach every meeting.
-Foster credible and well-planned clients who are effective communicators so discussions are more focused, they can feel heard, and be a full participant in their divorce process.
-Help strategize and organize all of the information that needs to be collected for the other professionals.
-Brainstorm with clients so they make better decisions and are prepared for their meetings.
-Provide the emotional guidance to clients that many other divorce professionals frequently find extend beyond their areas of expertise. Clients are more productive, less temperamental, and make better decisions.
-Aid clients in making rational and logical choices. This assistance reduces anxiety, leads to less emails and voice messages, and intensifies listening skills.
-Reduce the need of clients to have other divorce professionals alleviate their fears of the unknown, problem solve daily issues, and hold their hand.
-Help clients learn skills and strategies to advocate for themselves with respect, dignity, and honor.
Divorce coaches are an invaluable resource to other divorce professionals. They prepare clients, one step at a time, to turn the emotional side of divorce into the business of divorce. With the guidance of a divorce coach, clients develop a strategic roadmap for the dissolution of their marriage, have help organizing for the process, and learn skills necessary to negotiate and to effectively communicate their needs, wants, and desires without being overwhelmed by their feelings. Together, divorce coaches and other divorce professionals share the same goal for their clients: To help them show up as their best selves, navigate efficiently through the divorce process with the least amount of emotional interference in their decision-making, gain insight, and create a life vision for themselves based on specific intentions. While achieving their clients ‘goals, divorce professionals who work with divorce coaches have clients who are more efficient, organized, and collected.
Jennifer Warren Medwin, MS is a CDC Certified Divorce Coach, Supreme Court of Florida Family Mediator, and a Certified Marital Mediator.
Her private practice in Pinecrest, Miami is called Seeking Empowerment: Clarity through Partnership. Jennifer specializes in working alongside individuals and couples who are contemplating divorce and are fearful of high conflict and with those who hope to save their marriages. She partners with clients to develop the clarity, confidence, courage, conflict management strategies, and communication skills they need in order to move through the process. Jennifer uses her knowledge of coaching and mediation to help her clients emotionally prepare for the dissolution of their marriages or the reconciliation of their relationships in the most organized, time efficient, and productive manner. Additionally, Jennifer is a member of the National Association of Divorce Professionals (NADP), Divorceify, and a contributing writer for Your Tango, Thrive Global, and OurFamilyWizard. Her approach to divorce coaching and mediation is one that provides clients with guidance and compassion through a difficult time in their lives.
“Set the intention of living the life you always wanted. Turn your can’ts into cans and you dreams into plans.” Anonymous
Author Bio
Vanessa Vasquez de Lara is the founder and owner of Vasquez de Lara Law Group, a Miami family law firm. With over 20 years of experience in family law, she has zealously represented clients in various legal matters, including divorces, child support, child custody, alimony, and other family law cases.
Vanessa received her Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law in 2002 and is a member of the Florida Bar Association. She has received numerous accolades for her work, including being named to the 2015 Super Lawyers Rising Stars and the 2016-2023 Super Lawyers list.
