Managing Client Expectations About the Collaborative Process

Presented by: Sue Soler, LCSW, Abbie Frishman, CFP®, CDFA®, and Jennifer Bradley, JD

Wednesday, September 9, 2026
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Maggiano's - Chevy Chase

As we all know, clients often enter the Collaborative Process with expectations, assumptions, or goals that don't align with how the process actually works. Most don't have a solid understanding of the structure of the process, the role of the professional team, the level of participation required, and the flexibility required to reach a resolution. In an effort to ensure clients have more information about what to expect, we have developed a handout as a tool to help us as professionals have these conversations early and consistently with clients. It provides a framework for discussing what the Collaborative Process is, what clients can realistically expect, and the behaviors and commitments that tend to support a successful outcome.

During this presentation, we will review the handout, discuss when and how it can be used with clients, and share ideas for incorporating it into the Collaborative process. We will encourage attendees to actively participate in the discussion by sharing their experiences, challenges, and suggestions for how we can all use this tool within our cases.