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Season 2 Episode 9: Beyond Court Battles: How Collaborative Divorce Transforms Family Transitions
Divorce doesn't have to mean scorched earth and broken families. What if there was a way to end your marriage with dignity, privacy, and mutual respect—while saving time and money?
Rachel Borentrager, divorce attorney and pioneering advocate for collaborative divorce, returns to the Coupled Podcast to introduce listeners to this revolutionary alternative to traditional divorce proceedings. She explains how collaborative divorce brings together a specialized team—including collaboratively-trained attorneys, a neutral mental health facilitator, and a neutral financial expert—who work together to create solutions that honor everyone's interests rather than fighting over rigid positions.
The benefits are striking. While traditional litigation often drags on for years, costs upwards of $100,000 per spouse, and destroys co-parenting relationships, collaborative divorce typically resolves in months, costs significantly less, and preserves family connections. Rachel shares remarkable success stories, including divorced couples who now share children's items between homes and even go trick-or-treating together with new spouses—showing just how transformative this approach can be.
The process remains entirely outside the courtroom, with all financial disclosures and agreements kept private rather than becoming public record. This confidentiality protects personal information while allowing for creative solutions that courts simply cannot order, like step-up parenting plans that evolve as children age or flexible financial arrangements that address everyone's core concerns.
Whether you're contemplating divorce or know someone who is, this eye-opening conversation reveals an option most people never hear about until they're already deep in the traditional system. Learn why Rachel and a growing community of legal professionals are championing collaborative divorce as a better way forward for families in transition.
Dr. Jenna and Dr. Nari are the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists behind the Coupled Podcast. They both have private practices where they work with individuals, couples, and families in Florida. The two are ready to shake up the world of couples therapy and want to extend resources beyond the couples they see in their private practices.
If you like this episode and want to know more about taking the next step to improve your communication, connection, and intimacy, head over to our websites to learn more about our Staying Coupled and Getting Coupled courses. These online courses give you the flexibility to improve your relationship from the comfort and convenience of your home. The Staying Coupled course is for couples who want to do the work to connect, communicate, and have the healthiest relationship possible. The Getting Coupled course is for premarital couples wanting to learn the essentials for a successful marriage. Topics in both courses include the main issues couples face:
For more information, visit drjennascott.com/courses or drnarijeter.com/courses
Disclaimer: This podcast is not a substitute for therapy. If you’re struggling, we encourage you to seek support from a licensed therapist in your state. Our relationship suggestions and content may not be applicable or advised for relationships with intimate partner violence (IPV). If you need resources, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-7233.
