Separate Together

This week on the Pod, Jeff Johnson of New Trail Law explains how the Collaborative Divorce process works, what it's hallmarks are and what he can offer his clients through a Collaborative Divorce.

Jeff explains really well that how you choose to approach your separation is often more important than what happens in those four way meetings.

Huge thank you to Jeff!

This week on the pod Cody is joined by Ken Proudman, a seasoned family lawyer, mediator and arbiter. Ken generously explains how both mediation and arbitration work separately and when they are conmbined into a med-arb process.

This episode is a bit longer because there is just so much interestig ground to cover. Thank you so much to Ken for guiding us through!

A question that comes up often and early is, who gets the house? This question can be very striaghtforward or quite complex to answer.

This week, Melissa walks Cody through a number of ways we can address what is often people's primary asset and the primary emotional driver of their divorce process.

The need for security when you are going through a divorce can really drive your decision making. Cody notices two places this really shows up; keeping the family home, and keeping your pension intact.

Melissa explains how choosing to work together can result in an equitable agreement that also honours each person's individual needs.

This week Melissa explains what nesting is, how it works and why she believes it's worth it to try and keep the 'little chickens' in the nest.

Cody is skeptical but comes around when Melissa shares how our wonderful clients have navigated nesting.

This week Cody and Melissa are talking reality checking! What is it and why is it needed? Divorce is overwhemling and the fastest way to cut through that overwhelm is to get clarity on the law and your circumstances. When you cannot reality check your client you are always fighting an expensive and emotional losing battle.

This week Cody is joined by Katharine Carter, founder of Carter's Counselling Services and a highly experienced social worker and family mediator.

Katharine explains what mediation is and how effective it can be in helping people move through the transition of divorce.

Carter's Counselling is a wonderful resource for families in that it offers a one-stop-shop service where the entire family can be supported as they find their new normal.

Cody is struggling with summer. The scheduling, the costs, the camps. If Cody finds it challenging then the struggles for co-parents must be substantial but Melissa explains that careful planning and perhaps a 'summer summit' between co-parents can ease the burden of making summer memorable for everyone.

This week, Cody is joined by Cassandra Davis, a counsellor at Carter's Counselling who specializes in Attachment Theory. Cassandra often works with mediators to assist couples navigating a divorce or separation in having a successful mediation experience and to understand their attachment style so they can co-parent effectively.

This week, Melissa gets candid about what burnout from Family Law was like for her and how it became the driving force behind trying to do things differently.