Collaborative Coaching
Supporting you through the Collaborative Family Law Process
The Collaborative Family Law Process brings together professionals across all the disciplines involved in Family Dispute Resolution so that your family can resolve parenting and property arrangements outside of the courts. The Collaborative Coach is the team leader that coordinates between the participants (the separating couple involved in the dispute) and their support teams (which could include financial advisors, lawyers, and child specialists).
It's a bespoke process and is determined by your particular needs and context as a family. At BRB Mediation, we understand that navigating divorce can be emotionally challenging, especially when children are involved. Bianca Roche-Bolger's Collaborative Coaching services are designed to support divorcing parents through the collaborative family law process, emphasising a non-adversarial approach that prioritises the well-being of the entire family.
What is Collaborative Practice?
By treating everyone involved with respect, Collaborative Practice enables participants to solve disputes in a way that preserves their dignity and avoids the stress of litigation.
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Collaborative Practice is the process of solving disputes – such as separation of partners, or business disputes – outside of courts. Instead of treating disputes as conflicts with winners and losers, collaborative practice enables both parties to work together, with their lawyers, to achieve the best outcome for them both.
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Collaborative Practice involves a different procedure to solving issues through the courts system. At the outset, all parties sign a Participation Agreement, wherein everyone agrees to behave in a respectful manner to each other and provide the relevant information needed to create a fair agreement at the end. You and your lawyers will communicate with each other in face-to-face meetings, telephone conferences, and written correspondence. There will be four way-meetings in which everyone can share their views, concerns and important information in order to reach an agreement. Once an agreement is made, it can be made into a legal order by a judge.
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There are many benefits to engaging in Collaborative Practice, rather than resorting to courts or mediation. The process of Collaborative Practice ensures that all parties have the support they need. In addition to lawyers, other professionals may be engaged to look after the needs of both parties and ensure the best possible outcome for all involved. These may include child consultants, financial advisers, accountants, psychologists, or coaches.
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Collaborative Practice can be a particularly attractive option when children are present in the case. The needs of children are given careful consideration, and additional professionals may be brought into proceedings to ensure they are looked after properly. Additionally, by avoiding court procedures, it makes it possible to preserve working relationships between both partners. This is especially important if ongoing cooperation will be necessary while looking after children. It also minimises the emotional distress children would face during litigation and ongoing conflict between their parents.
Benefits of the Collaborative Process
Emotional Support:
Divorce can evoke a range of emotions, from sadness and anger to anxiety and uncertainty. Our collaborative coaches offer a supportive and empathetic environment where you can express your feelings, process your emotions, and develop coping strategies to navigate this challenging time.
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Communication Skills:
Effective communication is essential for successful collaboration. Our coaches provide guidance on improving communication skills, managing conflict constructively, and fostering productive dialogue with your co-parent to address concerns and reach agreements that benefit your children.
Child-Centered Approach:
The well-being of your children is our top priority. Our collaborative coaches help you prioritize your children's needs and interests throughout the collaborative process, ensuring that their voices are heard and their best interests are reflected in parenting plans and custody arrangements.
Legal Guidance:
While collaborative law involves resolving disputes outside of court, it's important to understand your legal rights and obligations. Our coaches work closely with experienced family law attorneys to provide you with the legal information and guidance you need to make informed decisions and advocate for your interests effectively.
Role of the Collaborative Coach
A collaborative coach is often seen as the “keeper” of the collaborative process. They bring the team together and manage action items and ensure that all parties stay focussed on the goal for a more respectful and less adversarial approach to their separation. A collaborative coach can assist in communication between the parties by supporting those that may find it difficult to speak up for themselves. The coach can assist in managing stress and offering referrals and supports for various issues that may arise in the process.
Combined with their training in the collaborative process, our Collaborative Coaches have extensive experience in family law and assisting parties with resolution options following relationship breakdown. Through their mediation experience, and many years facilitating discussions between parties, our Coaches have honed their communication skills. They have also worked extensively with other professionals in the collaborative space and are ready to support you and your clients explore outcomes that are beneficial to every person impacted by the relationship breakdown.
BRB is your Collaborative Process Coach
There are many roles involved in this process that create your collaborative team. Each of these roles are important in facilitating best possible outcomes; this may include the lawyers, the child specialists, the financial advisors (also known as financial neutrals), and the coach. The coach brings the whole team together.
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Bianca Roche-Bolger has been working as a coach for collaborative family law matters for the past ten years. She believes the process is a highly effective and less stressful way to reach resolution. It is resource-heavy and so can be more expensive, however, it's like the Rolls Royce approach because it means you have your very own dedicated team who are all working for you and your family's best interests. Often, everyone involved brings a different kind of energy to the negotiation table because their role isn't to hold a strict position, rather it's about collaborating with the rest of your dedicated experts alongside your family.
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The goals are settlement driven. This reduces the impact of stress and conflict on all participants, but particular the children. The aim is to protect parenting relationships for the future ahead.
Meet your Collaborative Coach
Bianca Roche Bolger is on the board of the Collaborative Professionals peak body for NSW. You can see her team profile here.
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Bianca says:
It is always such a privilege to work with families in the Collaborative Process. To support them as they try to navigate the changes in their relationship, whilst restructuring their family, is both challenging and professionally rewarding at the same time. Being a member of a multi-disciplinary, strengths focused team, is a further highlight. It not only ensures our clients are well resourced and have access to a wide breadth of knowledge and expertise, but it also enables you to share with and learn from one another. I strongly believe that the collegiate team building that comes when working together on collaborative matters, ripples outwards and continues to bring benefit to all members of the wider family law community.
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Read about Bianca's qualifications here >
Australian Association of Collaborative Professionals Webinar
The Role of the Coach In Interdisciplinary Collaborative Practice: A Webinar
Hosted by Shelby Timmins, with Bianca Roche-Bolger, Julia Brierley, Bernie Bolger, and Valerie Norton.
AUGUST 11, 2020
