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FAQ – Summer 2018

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) I’m worried that my spouse might not be fair to me in the divorce process. How can we try to work together in a peaceful process but still make sure I am taking care of myself? Divorce is stressful…
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Video - Collaborative Divorce : A Safe Place

A safe place Watch this video, Collaborative Divorce: A Safe Place, and follow the true-life story of one couple going through their own collaborative divorce.   Collaborative Divorce: A Safe Place is a twenty minute YouTube…
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Moms and Dads don’t give up on your other career dreams!

Moms and Dads don’t give up on your other career dreams! By Gail Nicholson, LPC http://gailnicholson.com/ As a divorce coach and vocational expert in collaborative and mediated cases that are settled out of court, I have the privilege…
https://bridgesdivorce.com/why-mediation/
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Children are our future...

The idea of a “Children’s’ Bill of Rights” is not new (or legally enforceable). Rather, use this list as a reminder to keep the best interest of the children a top priority. We the children of the divorcing parents, hereby establish…
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Collaborative Divorce Knowledge Kit

Is Collaborative Divorce right for you? Download your free knowledge kit quickly and easily. This free information packet was created by the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP) as a tool to educate you both about Collaborative…
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Child-Centered Parenting During Your Divorce

Child-Centered Parenting During Your Divorce by Diane Gans, MA, LPC www.choosingwellnesscounseling.com As a Child Specialist, I have great compassion for the impact that the process of divorce has on families.  Parents are not only…
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Stories about People Who Chose Collaborative Divorce

Collaborative Divorce Summaries: A couple who had once been childhood sweethearts could not keep communication civil. Tensions increased as custodial issues regarding their five-year-old son arose. The breaking point for the couple led…
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Why Collaborative Divorce?

Collaborative Divorce by Tonya Alexander, Collaborative Attorney and Mediator www.yourpeacefulresolution.com Most folks don’t want the typical (usually awful) American divorce. Instead, they want a respectful process that makes one…
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Why Mediation?

. . .why not just “ask the judge?” Mediation is a confidential process for resolving disputes. A neutral professional mediator assists the parties to reach a mutually acceptable resolution of their issues. The mediator does not take…
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Divorce Coach

A divorce coach is a mental health professional – often a psychologist, MA or an LCSW – who assists the clients to effectively move through the divorce. The “divorce coach” is unique to collaborative law. There is…
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Mediation as an Option

Is Mediation a good alternative for us? by Randall Poff, Mediator and Collaborative Attorney www.Mediator.Law Mediation is a way of resolving a dispute with the help of an impartial person (the mediator). The neutral mediator helps both…
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How to divorce without publicizing your private life

How to divorce without publicizing your private life by Jo Posey, JD, Managing Attorney, Fischer Family Law, PC www.fischerfamilylaw.com Most people don’t realize that everything they or their spouse files during their divorce case…
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Giving Thanks After a Split

When you’re a child of divorce, holiday celebrations can come with a lot of baggage. Check out this “first-person” article about new Thanksgiving “traditions.” [click the turkey]   "On a holiday devoted to gratitude, it…

Aaron M. Eichenbaum, CPA

Aaron M. Eichenbaum, CPA, graduated from Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon, with a Bachelors degree in Accounting.  Since that time, he has been engaged in various disciplines within the accounting profession; from auditing mid-sized…

Joanna "Jo" Posey

Why I do this work? Divorce can and should be a respectful and transformative process, not a civil war. My practice: My primary goal is to help families in transition achieve the best possible results for the least amount of emotional…

Myah Kehoe

Why I do this work? I have seen the toll litigation takes on couples and families so I know firsthand that no one "wins" in those situations. I would much rather focus my energy on helping people resolve their disputes in a respectful…

Diane Gans, MA, LPC, Psychotherapist

Why I do this work? I am passionate about supporting children and their families as they navigate the grieving process of divorce and work to create peaceful homes. My practice: I focus on helping children to express and explore their…
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IACP Forum, Las Vegas

IACP Forum 17th Annual Networking and Educational Forum October 27-30, 2016 Hilton / Lake Las Vegas Several of your Bridges Divorce professionals are back from the world collaborative conference in Lake Las Vegas, Nevada. IACP is…
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Relationships / Feedback

Negotiation requires listening to different perspectives that often conflict with how we see ourselves and our world. This is feedback. It’s hard to give and hard to take. Why is feedback so hard? Because of our insecurities. Why is…
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What is Co-Mediation?

Many family mediation matters are handled effectively by a single mediator, but there are also situations in which two professional heads working together are better than one. Co-mediation involves two trained professionals (usually one lawyer…
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Tips for families to prepare for a peaceful and cost efficient separation.

Finances – Gather information on your monthly expenses, income, and cash flow needs on a monthly basis. To help with this task, there are free sites such as www.mint.com that can categorize spending and help you understand your monthly budget.…
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How do you “bridge” the chasm between you?

As obvious as they are, the elements of a constructive divorce become obstructed from view by the emotional intensity of the experience. It is all too easy to stop caring about what happens and start justifying destructive behavior. It is easy…
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Collaborating collaborators...

Your Bridges’ professionals took Veterans’ Day away from their offices to honor vets and learn from and with about forty local collaborating professionals. We spent the day engaged and engaging with our peers. Tonya started the conference…
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Collaborative Divorce Empowers Stay-at-Home Spouse Re-Entering the Workplace

Increasingly in recent years, couples seeking an amicable divorce have chosen mediation as a way to avoid a nasty escalation into an expensive, attorney-driven legal battle. This works for many families. However, anecdotal research shows that…
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Robin Williams on Conflict

Robin Williams (1951-2014) demonstrates CONFLICT with his Sesame Street friends Collaborative Divorce is so much more than simply negotiating out-of-court. Robin Williams used the collaborative divorce process and is said to have maintained…
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Welcome Portland Monthly readers

Welcome Portland Monthly readers! If you saw our little “bluish” ad on page 85 of the November “Best Restaurants” issue, you’re entitled to a free telephone consultation (be sure to leave a message if you miss us). Please call…
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What’s a “Bonus Family,” anyway?

Bonus Families ® is the only international non-profit organization dedicated to promoting peaceful coexistence between divorced or separated parents and their combined families. Their goal? To support YOU. Now, that’s a real bonus… http://www.bonusfamilies.com/

T. Boone Pickens Tells How to Save Millions on Divorce

T. Boone Pickens was one of the featured presenters at a collaborative law conference in Texas. Following his talk with the group, he gave an entertaining and enlightening interview to the Dallas Business Journal — it’s written up here. Mr.…
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IACP Institute

Welcome back, Dona! Dona Cullen has returned from Phoenix, Arizona / ASU Mercado, where she took a 2-day course on Facilitation Skills for Collaborative Professionals. Her instructors were Rita Pollak, JD and Catherine Tornbon.
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Welcome Metro-Parent readers

Welcome Metro-Parent readers… If you saw our tall, skinny ad on page 19, you’re entitled to a free telephone consultation. Please call 503-567-2848.
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Portland Green Guide to Networking and Jobs

A guide to networking your way into the green working world of Portland, Oregon. A broad network created this valuable resource for those who want to make a difference. From an overview of career transition to tips on job search and networking…
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2011 Oregon Legislature Repeals 90-day Waiting Period

Prior to January 1, 2012, Oregon law seemed to prevent “a quickie-divorce.” There was a 90-day waiting period between starting a divorce and time of trial or judgment. The waiting period had been in effect since 1971, when Oregon adopted…

IACP Forum, San Francisco

October 27-30, 2011 Westin St. Francis / San Francisco Your Bridges Divorce professionals are back from the conference in San Francisco. IACP is the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, an international community of…

This American Life

Let no court put asunder…. Originally aired 8.24.2007 339: Break-Up Act Three. Let No Court Put Asunder. Ira talks with divorce mediator Barry Berkman about why it's bad when the justice system gets involved in a break-up. (8…

Randall Poff

My primary office is in Beaverton, just off Sunset Highway at Bethany; Appointments at satellite offices throughout Greater Portland or SW Washington are available upon request.   Why I do this work? The one constant in family law…

Jim O’Connor

Why do I do this work? I work as a mediator and Collaborative attorney to assist individuals and couples who are willing to work together to achieve peaceful, respectful solutions to their family issues. My practice: I provide free consultations…

Gail Jean Nicholson, MA, LPC

Why I do this work?  Being part of a collaborative or mediating team of professionals provides a significantly better way for couples to divorce. My practice:  I work as a divorce and vocational coach providing support through the process…

Lee Hamilton, MA

Why I do this work: Having counseled children and families in public schools for 30 years, I witnessed the devastation and heartache a family suffers going through an adversarial divorce. The adults often experience so much pain, there…

Dona Cullen

Why I do this work?  I am passionate about families and peacemaking. My practice is to create a professional /friendly, efficient/thoughtful, thorough/forward- looking process empowering couples to make the best decisions possible while…

Forrest Collins

Why I do this work? Divorce is hard, even in respectful situations. I get a lot of satisfaction from helping people navigate this challenging process in a way that leaves everyone feeling that the process was fair, that their voice was heard,…

Tonya Alexander

Why I do this work? I love helping families find hope and strength in difficult transitions such as separation and divorce and to show how this can be done peacefully out of court. My practice: My approach is to provide compassionate,…