Coaching Services
Coaching examines your level of happiness and satisfaction in all areas of your life. If you have a high conflict co-parenting relationship, it’s time to learn how to hold and set boudaries, disengage from the conflict, allowing yourself to always put the kids first, parent how you choose to parent, while allowing the other parent to do the same! Once you master these concepts, you will find your life is much more fulfilling. If you are ready to explore what brings you joy, and how to leave the conflict behind, then I am ready to take that journey with you!
1-on-1 Coaching
Michelle’s 1-on-1 coaching offers her unique experience as both a Certified High Conflict Diversion Program™ Coach, a Certified Martha Beck Life Coach, and as an attorney of over 20 years. Likewise, she is a survivor of a once very high conflict co-parenting relationship! She will teach you how to disengage from conflict, how to use a parallel parenting model to reduce your interactions with your co-parent, and she will teach you how to build a strong connection with your children. Michelle’s experience as an attorney, in particular as a litigator, provides her with a unique understanding of the goals of the court system, which is to win, and will teach you how to get out of the win-lose mentality of court, and instead work towards living a healthier lifestyle. *Coach Michelle does not practice family law, and she won’t be working with you as an attorney, but her training and experience as an attorney undoubtably enhances her understanding of high conflict. She often works hand-in-hand with the client’s attorney.
Michelle’s 1-on-1 coaching is typically done over zoom or by telephone, depending on her client’s preference.
Ghostwriting
Our coaches ghostwrite co-parenting communications for their clients. When high conflict co-parents are forced to communicate with each other, it creates a platform for conflict. Our coaches will read your communications, and in partnership with you, she will craft a well-written, non-inflammatory response that follows the BIFF™ guidelines, and she will teach you how to communicate effectively, without pouring kerosine on the flaming fire pit of conflict, and instead diffuses the conflict. The majority of the messages from a high conflict co-parent do not need a response. Our coaches teach our clients how to pick apart a communication and respond only to what is required, relating to the health, welfare and education of the children, in a neutral, friendly and firm way.
Coach Michelle also organizes messages between co-parents and puts together the relevent facts, for use in legal declarations for her clients if they are involved in a court lawsuit. *Coach Michelle does not practice family law, and she won’t be working with you as an attorney, but her training and experience as an attorney undoubtably enhances her understanding of high conflict. She often works hand-in-hand with the client’s attorney.
Court and Mediation Preparation
If you’ve ever been to court or mediation, you know that it can be stressful. If your co-parent exhibits narcissist or high conflict personality traits, it can quickly become your worst nightmare, and you may end up looking like the high conflict personality if you are not properly prepared. It’s important to learn how to disengage from conflict in court or mediation, how to respond to false allegations and how to present with a calm and amenable demeanor. Coach Michelle will role play specific activating scenarios to keep you focused and poised whether you have an attorney or not. *
Coach Michelle meets with clients over zoom or the telephone, depending on her client’s preference.
*Coach Michelle does not practice family law, and she won’t be working with you as an attorney, but her training and experience as an attorney undoubtably enhances her understanding of high conflict. She often works hand-in-hand with the client’s attorney.
Parent Coordination
Michelle works as a Parent Coordinator. Parent Coordination is a child-centered dispute resolution service that assists parents when they cannot come to an agreement on their own. It allows them to work together with a trained neutral party with the goal of keeping the children away from the conflict that the parents might otherwise experience. Michelle received her Juris Doctorate degree 20 years ago and worked as a litigator for 20 years, she has been a Certified Martha Beck Coach for 14 years and she has trained under Brook Olsen with the High Conflict Diversion Program™ for the past seven years, and received her Certificaiton.
*Coach Michelle does not practice family law, and she won’t be working with you as an attorney, but her training and experience as an attorney undoubtably enhances her understanding of high conflict. She often works hand-in-hand with the client’s attorney.
Group Coaching
Group Coaching is a great opportunity to get coached alongside other parents who have similar experiences and who are learning how to navigate their high conflict relationships. In these group coaching sessions, up to four parents will receive coaching on their struggles from one of our coaches, while also observing coaching sessions for fellow group members. Additionally, this program fosters connection and community among its members who are navigating similar experiences as parents.