| Expert Qualifications |
Dr. Savitz-Smith works as the mental health professional or coach in Collaborative Law
"The Mental Health Professional is part of the Collaborative Process to address and process the "relational estate" which includes family relationships, shared friendships, the spouses’ co-parenting relationship and the maintenance of their self-respect and dignity in their post-dissolution relationship. The Mental Health Professional is an integral member of the Collaborative Team,
comprised of lawyers and neutral financial and mental health professionals."
Collaborative Family Law Institute: Protocols of practice for Mental Health Professionals
Going through a divorce does not mean you have to be involved in an acrimonious process and endure the turmoil that is
so often associated with going to court . You now have another alternative: You can choose to participate in a process known as Collaborative Practice, that offers couples a respectful, considerate, solutions-based approach to changing their marital status while preserving the integrity of valued family relationships. Collaborative Practice dramatically changes the options for “divorce as usual”.
What is Collaborative Practice?
Collaborative practice is a cooperative, voluntary process to resolve family disputes without the need to go to court. With the help of professionals in various disciplines, the parties will work together to create shared solutions to all aspects of the dispute: financial, emotional and legal.
With collaborative practice, you can find the necessary support and tools so that you can experience an atmosphere of honesty, integrity and professionalism with a worthwhile goal: your future well-being and that of your family.
How collaborative practice works:
Each of you will choose an individual attorney, trained in collaborative practice, to assist you. Other collaborative professionals such as financial specialists, mental health professionals, and child specialists are available as you need them.
Your attorney will help you identify issues, collect data, locate experts, suggest options, and evaluate and negotiate
solutions. Once settlement is reached, the collaborative attorneys will prepare all settlements documents in accordance with legal requirements, and file paperwork with the court.
The Mental Health Professional or Coach is a licensed mental health professional who will assist you in dealing with the emotional aspects of ending the relationship and in preparing for the post-divorce relationship period. The communications coach can also help you create a foundation for successful co-parenting.
The financial professional will help you gather and organize information and to understand the financial and tax aspects
of the settlement options. The financial professional can also establish the valuation of business interests, employment benefits and retirement assets.
You are in charge. The collaborative process offers you autonomy, safety and respect. We as collaborative professionals
pledge to work with you in a constructive fashion towards resolving disputes respectfully.
Collaborative Practice can also be used to resolve other family matters such as premarital agreements, non-marital cohabitation agreements, domestic partnerships, guardianships, paternity and child custody and support matters.
comprised of lawyers and neutral financial and mental health professionals."
Collaborative Family Law Institute: Protocols of practice for Mental Health Professionals
Going through a divorce does not mean you have to be involved in an acrimonious process and endure the turmoil that is
so often associated with going to court . You now have another alternative: You can choose to participate in a process known as Collaborative Practice, that offers couples a respectful, considerate, solutions-based approach to changing their marital status while preserving the integrity of valued family relationships. Collaborative Practice dramatically changes the options for “divorce as usual”.
What is Collaborative Practice?
Collaborative practice is a cooperative, voluntary process to resolve family disputes without the need to go to court. With the help of professionals in various disciplines, the parties will work together to create shared solutions to all aspects of the dispute: financial, emotional and legal.
With collaborative practice, you can find the necessary support and tools so that you can experience an atmosphere of honesty, integrity and professionalism with a worthwhile goal: your future well-being and that of your family.
How collaborative practice works:
Each of you will choose an individual attorney, trained in collaborative practice, to assist you. Other collaborative professionals such as financial specialists, mental health professionals, and child specialists are available as you need them.
Your attorney will help you identify issues, collect data, locate experts, suggest options, and evaluate and negotiate
solutions. Once settlement is reached, the collaborative attorneys will prepare all settlements documents in accordance with legal requirements, and file paperwork with the court.
The Mental Health Professional or Coach is a licensed mental health professional who will assist you in dealing with the emotional aspects of ending the relationship and in preparing for the post-divorce relationship period. The communications coach can also help you create a foundation for successful co-parenting.
The financial professional will help you gather and organize information and to understand the financial and tax aspects
of the settlement options. The financial professional can also establish the valuation of business interests, employment benefits and retirement assets.
You are in charge. The collaborative process offers you autonomy, safety and respect. We as collaborative professionals
pledge to work with you in a constructive fashion towards resolving disputes respectfully.
Collaborative Practice can also be used to resolve other family matters such as premarital agreements, non-marital cohabitation agreements, domestic partnerships, guardianships, paternity and child custody and support matters.
