Headlines this month are screaming “January is DIVORCE MONTH!” It’s a not so happy statistic that is, unfortunately, accurate. More people reach out to divorce attorneys during the month of January than any other month of the year. There are many reasons why January seems to be the most popular month to begin your divorce process. The key is the idea of beginnings. As the first month of the year, with the holidays behind you, and after a time of reflection, January is the month of resolutions and rebooting. We want to redesign our lives. And so in situations where the central relationship in your life has been on life support for a while, you may be ready to pull the plug. But before you walk into your lawyer’s office, take a breath. Now is actually a great time to engage a divorce coach. A divorce coach may be the central person on your divorce team who can help you develop your divorce plan, work with you as you learn how to exercise your voice with clarity, and support you as you begin envisioning the future you may never have dreamed of.

You may be wondering, what support can a divorce coach offer that you can’t get from your divorce attorney? Let me respond by asking you this. When was the last time you were in a divorce attorney’s office? For most of you, it is most likely, never.  You are brand new at this. You have very little experience in divorce and especially in your own divorce. A divorce coach will help you understand the terrain that you are walking into. She can help you by listening to your story, asking you the questions you need to ask so that you can walk into the attorney’s office with clarity and confidence that you know what you want and what you need from your divorce. You will share with your divorce attorney why you are getting divorced, as you will share with your attorney, but you will also share what you need to know. You never need to feel insecure when you are in your divorce coaching space.  This is the space for questions. Questions that you have for your coach, and also, questions your coach has for you. You will think deeply about how you can stay true to your values during the process and how you can be your best self throughout. You will learn tools that can help you respond when you might otherwise have reacted. Taking time between action and reaction may be the key between getting a settlement that is fine, and a settlement that is better than fine. Communication will become your friend when you practice these skills with your divorce coach.

Attorneys want credible clients. They appreciate that divorce is an emotional experience, but they also appreciate a client who can separate the emotions of divorce from the business of divorce. Working with a divorce coach helps you become that client for your attorney. And when an attorney appreciates a client’s effective communication you will get the best support.

So, now that you’ve learned a bit about why January is known as DIVORCE MONTH, you can take advantage of the timing to hire a divorce coach and position yourself above the crowd. You will be better prepared for the process which will serve you better, save you money, and ensure that your attorney appreciates working with you and for you, leading to a better settlement and better result for you and your family.