» Member Meeting

Monthly Member Meeting Wednesday, February 8, 2023 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM Tell Me Your Story: The Role and Power of Our Clients’ Narratives Presented by Natalie Goldberg, LCSW, LICSW, LCSW-C and Sue Soler, LCSW-C, LICSW All clients come to the Collaborative process with a narrative. It’s through their narrative that they make sense of what’s happened in their lives, their relationships and the divorce. In this program, we’ll explore how those narratives play a significant role in how our clients view the process, the professionals, their partner and the resolution. How they are, in fact, another reference point for our clients. We will discuss the purpose of narratives, what informs narratives, and why it is important for us to understand and integrate narratives into our work and process with clients. Finally, we will explore frameworks and tools available to the professionals as we work with each other and our clients on getting to resolution using narratives as a main reference point. Please note: This meeting will be conducted by Zoom. Please contact the DCACP Adminstrator at DCACP.office@gmail.com for more meeting information. Kindly submit an RSVP below to record your attendance. Read More

Loneliness and the Need for Connection During Divorce. How loneliness impacts health, loneliness as an emotional health crisis; the importance of hope. Presented by: Lisa Herrick, PhD MONDAY! October 16, 2023 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM Loneliness is far more than just a bad feeling—it harms both individual and societal health. It is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death. – U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy “I’m not much, but I’m all I have.” – Philip K. Dick “I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up alone. It’s not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people that make you feel all alone.” – Robin Williams “I like being alone. I have control over my own shit.” – Horacio Jones “To live alone is the fate of all great souls.” – Arthur Schopenhauer Loneliness is a much more complex state of being than we might think, and the experience of loneliness can stem from a wide range of causes. This program will explore the nature of loneliness and how our clients, heading into, though, or out of divorce struggle with feelings of isolation and alienation. We will also talk about how we, as helping professionals, can help our clients identify these feelings, cope with them a little more effectively, and perhaps ease their own loneliness. We will talk about how to really sit with our clients in ways that may help them feel – just for a moment, with us, a little less lonely. Please note: This meeting will be conducted by Zoom. Please contact the DCACP Adminstrator at DCACP.office@gmail.com for more meeting information. Kindly submit an RSVP below to record your attendance. Read More

Monthly Member Meeting Wednesday, January 11, 2023 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM Supporting Adults and Children When New Partners Enter the Picture After Separation/Divorce Presented by Karen S. Bonnell In many of the families we work with, a parent’s new romantic partner is part of the picture, or parents anticipate dating in the future as they move through the divorce process. Karen Bonnell, a mental health professional (retired) with over 40 years of experience working with families as a therapist, divorce/co-parent coach and mediator will join us to answer some of our most pressing questions. Today, Karen helps parents Divorce Well – prepare their children for two-home family life, Co-Parent Strong – strengthen their co-parenting skills, and Step-Wise – assist with how to successfully introduce kiddos to a new romantic partner and integrate a new adult into two-home family life – best practices while moving toward stepfamily. Karen will speak to so many of the issues we have all wondered about: How does growth and development play into a child’s readiness to integrate a new adult into their sense of family? How do we help parents and the person their dating to understand the axiom that “the slower we go, the faster we’ll get there”? Help parents see, anticipate and manage the “five stepfamily challenges” that begin during the dating phase – for example, discipline. Help parents appreciate the impact of dating on their co-parenting relationship, how to discuss dating with a co-parent, and how to prevent the risk of children falling into painful loyalty binds; important considerations when developing a parenting plan that supports next-time family. Help parents begin to imagine the purpose of forming a constructive parenting coalition where all the adults communicate and work together on behalf of the kiddos… huge impact post-decree. Please note: This meeting will be conducted by Zoom. Please contact the DCACP Adminstrator at DCACP.office@gmail.com for more meeting information. Kindly submit an RSVP below to record your attendance. Read More

Monthly Member Meeting Wednesday, November 9, 2022 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM Introducing the DMV Social Media Campaign Please note: This meeting will be conducted by Zoom. Please contact the DCACP Adminstrator at DCACP.office@gmail.com for more meeting information. Kindly submit an RSVP below to record your attendance. Read More

Monthly Member Meeting Wednesday, October 12, 2022 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM Raising Happy Rainbows: LGBTQ+ Youth in Divorcing Families Presented by Amy Cannava, Ed.S., NCSP The vast majority of LGBTQIA+ youth are born to heterosexual parents. This often leaves even the most well-meaning parents unsure of where to turn for needed affirming medical and socio-emotional supports. Parents may not always see eye-to-eye on how to best support their children and that can lead to marital conflict. Therefore, divorce professionals need to be informed about the development of sexuality and gender identity, the coming out process, the impact of affirmation, disproportionate risk facts of queer and trans youth, and family dynamics. This presentation will arm attorneys, financial neutrals and mental health professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to better advocate for their adult clients AND the children they are raising. Please note: This meeting will be conducted by Zoom. Please contact the DCACP Adminstrator at DCACP.office@gmail.com for more meeting information. Kindly submit an RSVP below to record your attendance. Read More

Monthly Member Meeting Wednesday, September 14, 2022 5:45 PM – 8:00 PM Presentation begins at 6:30 PM. Raising Happy Rainbows: LGBTQ+ Youth in Divorcing Families Presented by Amy Cannava, Ed.S., NCSP The vast majority of LGBTQIA+ youth are born to heterosexual parents. This often leaves even the most well-meaning parents unsure of where to turn for needed affirming medical and socio-emotional supports. Parents may not always see eye-to-eye on how to best support their children and that can lead to marital conflict. Therefore, divorce professionals need to be informed about the development of sexuality and gender identity, the coming out process, the impact of affirmation, disproportionate risk facts of queer and trans youth, and family dynamics. This presentation will arm attorneys, financial neutrals and mental health professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to better advocate for their adult clients AND the children they are raising. Read More

DCACP 2022 Summer Party! Wednesday, June 8, 2022 St Vincent’s Wine Bar Party starts at 5:30 PM. Weather permitting (fingers crossed), this event will be held outside on the upstairs deck. Tickets for attendees are $40 per person. Please purchase your ticket(s) by Wednesday, June 1. Warmly, The Enlivenment Committee Read More

Monthly Member Meeting Wednesday, May 11, 2022 5:00 PM – 6:15 PM No Justice No Peace – pushing forward in our Equity and Inclusion work. Presented by DCACP E&I working group. Read More