Collaborative Practice

Nina Raff, LCSW

Collaborative Practice is a non-adversarial process focused on getting families from dispute to resolution efficiently and with as little financial and emotional damage as possible, while securing an agreement which addresses their common and individual interests. Divorce and dissolution usually cause a lot of feelings of powerlessness for everyone in the family. This strategy puts you in control of the process instead of handing it over to a judge.

Collaborative Practice is a new way to resolve disputes respectfully -- without going to court -- by working with trained professionals who are important to all areas of your life.

Collaborative Practice, unlike mediation, offers you and your partner the support, protection, and guidance of your own lawyers and coaches without going to court. Additionally, unlike the traditional adversarial process, Collaborative Practice provides you the benefit of child and financial specialists, divorce coaches and other professionals all working together on your team.

In Collaborative Practice, core elements form your contractual commitments, which are to:

Negotiate a mutually acceptable settlement without having courts decide issues.
Maintain open communication and information sharing.
Create shared solutions acknowledging your highest priorities.
All experts are neutral and agree in advance not to go to court.