Having received this award last year was the greatest honor of my professional life—being able to present the award to this year’s recipient comes close to that and I so wish I could be there in person to do so. On the other hand, I can’t imagine a better substitute for doing the honors and reading these words from the bottom of my heart. First I would like to thank the committee which had representatives from around the state. We had an outstanding pool of nominees and I am happy to report … [Read more...]
Credentialing: Can I Get It Done?
Since the collaborative process is about transparency, if you are asking this question today the honest answer is probably not for this year’s class of applicants (although you can certainly try). While not impossible, the application process was designed to be challenging so that the achievement would have significance and be worth the effort it required. Credentialing is not a rubber stamp process, nor is it simply an “application” to fill out and submit with a guarantee of acceptance. As a … [Read more...]
Best Practices for Video Conferencing
By Carol Mapp, LCSW and Honey Sheff, PhD In the age of COVID-19 and mandated social distancing, collaborative professionals are finding ways to reach out to their clients and conduct collaborative meetings in different locations. There are numerous video platforms such as Zoom, WebEx, and GoToMeeting that provide live two-way interaction between collaborative teams and their divorcing clients. The use of video conferencing has certain challenges that must be considered before … [Read more...]
To Credential or not to…Nope, Not is NOT an option
To all my collaborative colleagues who shudder at the thought of going through yet another certifying process to add to your already over-certified resume, I ask you to take a deep breath and take the plunge—if not to distinguish yourself, for the sake of lending credibility to the practice of collaborative divorce. We in the collaborative divorce world are continuing to fight for legitimacy of a process that we all believe in. But passion and faith are not enough to ensure that collaborative … [Read more...]
Letter From The President
Fall is a time for giving and for gratitude. It is also a time for reflection. When I think about the first several months of my presidency of CDT I am filled with gratitude: for the opportunity the collaborative process gives couples, and the professionals who help them, to restructure their families and lives; for the chance to work with the amazing and talented colleagues who share the same vision, hope and commitment; for the members of CDT who support both the process and our organization; … [Read more...]
Welcome New CDT Board Members!
I would like to extend a warm welcome to the new CDT Board members who begin their terms in 2018: Rhonda Cleaves and Kevin Pinkley. Rhonda Cleaves Rhonda is an attorney in Plano who has an almost exclusively collaborative divorce practice and has already served in several volunteer capacities for CDT, including participation on the Forms committee, in the development of the Parenting Plan Checklist and most recently as Director of the SBOT Collaborative Law Course. Kevin … [Read more...]
I MADE A DIFFERENCE Campaign
Many of you may have heard that CDT launched a major fund-raising effort during spring conference designed to help you by helping us make collaborative divorce the preferred method of divorce in Texas. The “I MADE A DIFFERENCE” campaign, which asked our members to donate the monetary equivalent of one billable hour, was limited to the 2 days of the conference and had the lofty goal of raising $20,000. We are most happy to report that our membership TRULY stepped up and more than 50% of attendees … [Read more...]
Collaborative Divorce Texas Member – Newsletter Profile
Name: Honey A. Sheff Date and Place of Birth 11-24-1954; Brooklyn, NY Family: one of two children (the younger sister), father deceased and mother about to turn 98; married to my high school sweetheart; 2 millennial aged children (son and daughter) and currently one dog and one cat Education: BA from Queens College/CUNY (1975); MA (1977) and Ph.D. (1981) from Stony Brook University; Graduate Certificate Degree in Dispute Resolution from SMU (2001) Firm Name: Honey A. Sheff, Ph.D., P.C. … [Read more...]
Hello from Your MHP
It has become increasingly common for the Mental Health Professional (MHP) on teams to meet with clients prior to the initial joint meeting. This practice initially began as a mechanism for assessing client fit for the collaborative process, typically when one, or both, of the attorneys had some concerns about the appropriateness of the clients for the process. However, while the value of such screening meetings is clear, over time this practice has expanded beyond its initial purpose and has … [Read more...]
Guiding Parents on When NOT to Tell Their Children about Divorce
One of the most difficult challenges facing parents who are planning to divorce is what to tell their children. While indeed this is perhaps the most painful conversation that parents will ever have, a frequently overlooked dynamic is the timing of this discussion. As a lawyer or mental health professional, you are often one of the first people in a position to guide your clients in not only what to say, but when to say it. You need to help your client see this experience from their child’s … [Read more...]
