Over the years, people have asked me why I belong to the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP)? The question is usually about whether I am into divorces? I respond that I am into peacemaking. So earlier this month, when the IACP was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize 2023 for its efforts to transform the way families resolve conflict, I felt the need to highlight this organization, and acknowledge what the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals is really about.
The International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP) is an international community of legal, mental health, and financial professionals working in concert to create client-centered processes for resolving conflict. The idea of Collaborative Law began in the late 1980s, early 1990s when a family law lawyer wanted to find a way for lawyers to use their talents as problem-solvers and resolve family law disputes outside of courts in a “settlement only” process.
This idea has grown over the years to include not just lawyers, but also coaches, mediators, and financial specialists all working together to resolve conflict peacefully without going to court. This idea is known as Collaborative Practice, which is an approach I use in my practice at Wise Choice Educational Solutions.
At Wise Choice Educational & Family Solutions, I use mediation techniques and methods as an alternative dispute resolution service. I assist couples to make peace with the situation they find themselves in by facilitating an honest dialogue between each of them. I am a neutral party; I do not take sides. Instead, I attempt to assist all parties to see the others’ point of view. The goal is to have a peaceful resolution that comes out of both parties’ strengths, rather than their weaknesses. The goal is a winning resolution for all involved.
My mediation or peacemaking technique is unique in that I use a long-term approach. I believe the current issue at hand is not the end of the road but rather the beginning of a new better way to live life. In the situation of a divorce may be the most dreaded idea, but it could also be the beginning of a renewed way to see your strengths emerge. A new emotional or spiritual awakening could potentially take place from this difficult dynamic that would not have been possible with the status quo arrangement.
Achieving peace requires a web of support. Consulting others helps us in making good decisions as it helps us to gain perspective about our own selves so we can create the best alternative for our long-term life. This team of support may include a financial planner, a therapist, a consulting attorney, a clergy member, extended family, an exercise guru, and/or a physician. Each mediation is unique and may not require so much support. Again, this process is personalized for you and your family’s needs.
The Collaborative Practice approach allows me to help families in chaos develop new tools so they can live by the design they were created to thrive in. With each new life change, we need to renovate and get real with the raw materials we have. With a team of support, no issue is too big. Together, we can achieve our goal – a peace-filled resolution that works well for your family.
Want to learn more about Collaborative Mediation and my approach? Book a discovery call and see how we could potentially work together.
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