Dr. Sheila Cohen FurrClinical Psychologist Contact

Library

Resources

Clear, trusted resources on the collaborative process.

Start Here

Understanding Collaborative Divorce

The clearest way to understand the collaborative process is to see it next to the traditional court process. Same starting point, two very different paths.

Your marriage is ending.
Collaborative Process
You both choose it. Voluntary.
Mutual respect. One shared team: lawyers, neutral experts, communication support.
You talk directly. You set the pace. It stays private.
Costs stay manageable.
One settlement, created by both of you.
Litigation (Court)
Filed in court. Mandatory if you can’t agree.
Opposing sides. Separate lawyers, separate experts. No help communicating.
You talk through lawyers. The judge sets the pace. It’s in the public record.
Costs can escalate fast.
The judge decides. Someone loses.

Comparison adapted from the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP).

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about collaborative divorce and how Dr. Furr can help.

What is collaborative divorce?

Collaborative divorce is a voluntary, out-of-court process where you and your spouse work with one shared team — lawyers, neutral experts, and communication support — instead of opposing sides. You talk directly, set your own pace, and reach a single settlement created by both of you, and the process stays private.

How is collaborative divorce different from litigation?

In litigation, the case is filed in court and is mandatory if you can’t agree. Each side has separate lawyers and experts with no built-in help communicating, costs can escalate quickly, and the outcome becomes part of the public record and is decided by a judge. Collaborative divorce keeps those decisions with you and your spouse instead.

What roles does Dr. Furr serve in the collaborative process?

Dr. Furr serves as a Family Mediator, Child Specialist, and Neutral Facilitator, and is an Accredited Collaborative Professional. Each role is designed to reduce conflict and keep the focus on the family’s well-being and future.

What is a Child Specialist?

A Child Specialist serves as the voice of the child in the collaborative process while keeping children out of parental conflict, helping ensure their needs and interests are properly represented.

Where is Dr. Furr licensed to practice?

Dr. Furr is a licensed psychologist in Florida, Colorado, and California, and holds PSYPACT authority for interjurisdictional telepsychology.

What if we’re not sure whether to stay together or separate?

Dr. Furr offers Divorce Counseling, Mediation, Collaborative Mediation, Collaborative Divorce, and Parenting Plan Consultation as different paths depending on where you and your family are — from staying together to reconciliation to separation or divorce.

Watch

Videos

Short videos explaining the collaborative process, what it sounds like in practice, and why families choose it.

Visit The Counselogue

Read

Articles & Insights

Writing from Dr. Furr on parenting, planning, and the principles that guide collaborative practice — all on The Counselogue blog.

Parenting

Parenting Schedules — “It’s all about the kids!”

Read article

Decision Making

Consultation in Decision Making

Read article

Life Planning

Life Planning — Financial, Legal, and Emotional — at the Beginning of a New Relationship, Using the Collaborative Process

Read article

Collaborative Practice

The Importance of a Unified Statement of Interests and Goals in Collaborative Practice

Read article

Explore

Books

A curated list of books by and for everyone touched by divorce — from children to parents to professionals building collaborative practices.