“Separation Ambivalence”: When Divorce Has Begun, But Separation Has Not
Members of the California Institute for Consensual Dispute Resolution, Jon Kramer, LCSW, Heidi Tuffias, Esq., M.A., and Anna Addleman, CPA, CDFA, have co-authored an article titled “Separation Ambivalence”: When Divorce Has Begun, But Separation Has Not. The article introduces a concept the Institute has developed—separation ambivalence—to explain why some seemingly amicable CDR divorces stall or unravel despite…
Read MoreLiving Through Crisis, Anxiety and Polarization: The Effects on CDR Professionals and Our Cases
Members of the California Institute for Consensual Dispute, Jon Kramer, LCSW, Dr. Mary Lund, PhD, and Jennifer Winestone, Esq have coauthored an article, titled, “Living Through Crisis, Anxiety and Polarization: The Effects on CDR Professionals and Our Cases.” Their article explores the challenging ways in which today’s crises—ranging from global pandemics and natural disasters to…
Read MoreHelp, We Need a Lifeline: Assisting The Divorcing Family To Function Using Structural Family Systems Therapy Techniques
Center members, Kim Davidson, Jon Kramer, R.J. Thomas and Heidi Tuffias will be presenting an exciting, cutting-edge new program in Redwood City at CPCAL (Collaborative Practice California) on April 22, 2023 called “Help, We Need a Lifeline: Assisting The Divorcing Family To Function Using Structural Family Systems Therapy Techniques”. This program originated from a program…
Read MoreA Marriage Story – Could the Collaborative Divorce Process help this couple?
The movie “A Marriage Story” on Netflix, portrays a couple who transition from initially looking to find common ground for their divorce to becoming enemies looking to tear each other down to make sure they both got their just dues in the end. As I watched the plot unfold, I observed a couple, who initially…
Read MoreThe Adults In The Room
Our children are listening, learning, and sometimes teaching: One of my client-couples brought these post-it notes to a recent session. They were heartbroken. While arguing, they thought out of earshot, their young daughter went onto the family computer and did a google search for “conflict resolution.” This is what their daughter wrote down and handed…
Read MoreThe 3-Marriage Cycle
Here at the Collaborative Center of Southern California (CCSC) our clinical work often begins with couples that have made the decision to move their relationships toward divorce. At this starting point our mental health professionals are interested to assess what marriage cycle the presenting couple is in. And how their “previous marriages” evolved. Even if…
Read MoreChildren Will Choose: 2 Ideas As To Why
Children will choose. Sometimes I sit with couples attempting to strengthen their marriages. Other times I sit with high conflict couples who are attempting to salvage them. And still other times I sit with couples who have decided to divorce and are seeking a path forward for their family, which involves a co-parenting plan. In…
Read MoreCo-Parenting? Maybe
High conflict couples. Some seek my services attempting to salvage their marriage. Others have decided to divorce and request my services as a “co-parenting communication expert.” In this latter scenario, I am called upon to help high conflict couples co-parent their children. Usually these couple’s assumption about co-parenting is something akin to working together as…
Read More4 Important Aspects Of A Divorce Coach’s 1st Session
Sometimes couples come to see me to save their marriage. Other times they come seeking assistance in navigating the complicated process of divorce. They have come to this difficult decision, sometimes mutually, sometimes initiated by one or the other. At this juncture, I am called upon to act not as the couple’s therapist, but as…
Read More4 Important Aspects of A Couples Therapist’s 1st Session
I am often asked what to expect by couples coming to see me for their 1st couples therapy session. There are several areas I set out to cover during this meeting also referred to as an “intake session.” A productive intake balances a couple’s need to speak about what brought them in to see me…
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