There’s a lot of confusion out there about what being a certified divorce coach means and why it matters. Advocating for the profession of divorce coaching is part of our mission here at DCA™ and today we’re talking about how important it is that anyone calling themselves a divorce coach have the proper training and credentials.
If we want professional recognition and a seat at the table, we need to start raising the bar. And speaking of bar...recall that the American Bar Association recognizes divorce coaching as a form of alternative dispute resolution. Not advice-giving, advocacy, or consultancy. Not cheerleaders or positive psychology peddlers. And not life coaches.
We are ADR specialists. In order to call ourselves professional divorce coaches, we need to have rigorous training that includes both an ADR foundation and coaching frameworks, demonstrate competency under the guidance of a mentor coach, and adhere to a code of ethics and professional conduct.
One of the things that really muddies the waters in the world of divorce coaching is that there is no international, national or state certifying body. There are many training programs that provide varying levels and types of education, but no overseer that insures these programs align with the ABA ADR-based definition.
Trademarks, logos and taglines are great - but they only mean that a program or organization has protected their name legally, not that they've been granted any authority. And DCA™ does not intend to pursue ICF accreditation because we do not align with their general coaching competencies - more specific tools and skills are required for effective conflict resolution and work as an ADR practitioner.
We hope you'll join us on our mission to raise the bar on the professional practice of divorce coaching so we can all get a seat at the table.
You can learn more about DCA™ or find out about any of the classes or events mentioned in this episode at the links below:
Website: www.divorcecoachesacademy.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/divorcecoachesacademy
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/divorce-coaches-academy
Email: DCA@divorcecoachesacademy.com