You don’t need someone to just listen to you and nod. You need someone who knows how to get you through the challenges of divorce, strategically, not just emotionally. Someone who is trained to help support and build your conflict management skills, because this is at the core of making your divorce less stressful and less destructive. This is what I offer my clients as a certified alternative dispute resolution divorce coach.
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) represents methods for resolving disagreements without having to do so in a courtroom battle. Mediation, collaborative divorce, negotiation, divorce coaching. These are options for making divorce less contentious (and usually less expensive and exhausting) especially if the relationship is already high-conflict.
Using ADR can also help you feel more in control of the choices and outcomes in your divorce process, instead of handing much of the responsibility for creating resolutions to your legal team.
As a DCA Certified Alternative Dispute Resolution Divorce Coach, I use conflict resolution training as a framework for supporting clients in every session we have. Whether you’re preparing to have “the talk” about getting divorced, or in the process and want to get through negotiations in a fair and civil manner, or are trying to keep your cool and not inflame further drama in your text communications with your spouse… ADR is an approach I use to help you handle it all.
In my divorce coaching practice alternative dispute resolution is not just theory, it’s a part of nearly every session with my clients.
My client, Mary, was continually triggered by her spouse’s combative texts and calls. She felt like her patience was constantly being tested and her raw emotions were causing her to react in ways that didn’t line up with her values – creating more and more conflict, rather than resolving the legal issues that stood between her and a fair divorce settlement. Through our sessions, she was able to create strategic focus on the results she wanted, rather than getting distracted by her desire to defend herself. I helped her to set boundaries on her communication methods and she was therefore able to get to resolution faster and protect her peace.
Another client, Susan, needed support in feeling confident and informed as she prepared for mediation sessions. Helping her understand and shift her role in the high conflict patterns with her spouse fostered a feeling of calm and preparedness, which aided in speeding up negotiation progress.
In my divorce coaching practice alternative dispute resolution is not just theory, it’s a part of nearly every session with my clients.
My client, Mary, was continually triggered by her spouse’s combative texts and calls. She felt like her patience was constantly being tested and her raw emotions were causing her to react in ways that didn’t line up with her values – creating more and more conflict, rather than resolving the legal issues that stood between her and a fair divorce settlement. Through our sessions, she was able to create strategic focus on the results she wanted, rather than getting distracted by her desire to defend herself. I helped her to set boundaries on her communication methods and she was therefore able to get to resolution faster and protect her peace.
Another client, Susan, needed support in feeling confident and informed as she prepared for mediation sessions. Helping her understand and shift her role in the high conflict patterns with her spouse fostered a feeling of calm and preparedness, which aided in speeding up negotiation progress.
The marriage ends, but conflict often lingers. Clients who learn to separate emotions from decision-making during their divorce carry that skill forward. They are the ones who tend to not continue the fighting for years after the ink on their settlement is dry. They are the ones who have built confidence in their ability to make decisions for themselves and not get caught up in the drama (whether it’s with their ex or others).
The best way to learn more about coaching and the ADR approach is to set up a FREE Divorce Fit Call
This is a 30-minute private zoom or phone call – no pressure, just a conversation about your situation and how my divorce coaching would work.
No. Mediation is one specific process where a mediator helps you and your spouse reach agreements directly. Alternative Dispute Resolution is the broader category that mediation, collaborative divorce, and divorce coaching all fall under. My coaching uses ADR as its framework, but I’m not your mediator or your attorney. I’m the person helping you show up to those processes clear-headed and prepared.
Yes. ADR is about how you and your spouse handle conflict and decisions – it doesn’t replace legal advice. Most of my coaching clients have an attorney handling the legal side of their divorce while we work on the strategy, communication, and emotional regulation side. The two work together, not instead of each other.
This is exactly where ADR-based coaching earns its keep. You can’t control whether your spouse negotiates in good faith – but you can control how you show up, what you respond to, and where you draw the line. A lot of my coaching clients come to me dealing with a high-conflict spouse. The work isn’t to make them reasonable. It’s to make sure their behavior doesn’t run your decisions.
Not always, and it’s important to say that plainly. ADR and mediation assume both people can negotiate on relatively even footing. If there’s a safety concern or a serious power imbalance, that’s a conversation to have with your attorney first – ADR approaches aren’t a substitute for legal protection in those situations. If you’re not sure which category you’re in, that’s something we can discuss during a Divorce Fit Call.
Therapy is built to help you process what you’re feeling. ADR divorce coaching is built to help you act – make decisions, communicate strategically, and get through negotiations without losing ground because you’re exhausted or reactive. Plenty of clients have both running at the same time. They’re doing different jobs.
Most clients notice a shift within the first few coaching sessions – not because the divorce gets easier, but because they stop reacting to every text and start responding on purpose. The full timeline depends on where you are in the process and how contentious things are.
Yes. ADR-based divorce coaching isn’t only for people trying to avoid court – it’s just as useful for managing conflict, communication, and decision-making while litigation is already underway. It’s never too late to stop letting the process run you.
Disclaimer: All content on this website is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice. Submission of information through this website does not create any obligation of confidentiality or privilege.
Marlene Caraballo makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, adequacy, or currency of the information provided. Reliance on any content is at your own risk. Marlene Caraballo disclaims all liability for any actions or decisions taken based on the content of this website.
The website and its content are provided “as is” without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement.
Marlene Caraballo, DCA® Certified ADR Divorce Coach
Offering Sessions Online, or In-Person in the Naples, Florida Area
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