CDC CERTIFICATION and our independence

As divorce coaching has grown, there’s been a surge of new titles, associations, and accreditation bodies appearing almost overnight. Some are thoughtful. Others are clearly business models first. I chose the CDC Certified Divorce Coach® Program deliberately because it is established, independent, and grounded in real practice, not trend-driven credentialing.

The CDC program was established in 2011, making it one of the earliest and longest-standing divorce coaching certification programs in the field. It was built specifically for divorce coaching, not adapted later from another profession, and it has trained coaches across Canada, the US, the UK, Australia, and beyond.

The CDC is a divorce-specific certification, not a general life coaching credential rebranded for divorce work. Its training is designed exclusively around the realities of separation and divorce.This credential stands out because it includes the elements a serious divorce coaching program should have:

• Mentored, live training with structured practice and direct feedback
• Observed coaching sessions, with instructors and peers providing guidance and critique
• Practical, divorce-specific frameworks grounded in real client scenarios
• Built-in professional community and ongoing development, not one-and-done certification
• A formal Code of Ethics and Practice Standards
• Recognition for continuing education through the International Coaching Federation (ICF)

The CDC is intentionally independent of law firms and legal associations. That independence matters. It allows divorce coaches to remain client-first, ethically grounded, and professionally accountable without being governed by professions with different mandates and incentives.

This training provides the depth, accountability, and professional credibility I believe are essential when supporting people through one of the most complex transitions of their lives. 

I work as an independent CDC Certified Divorce Coach®. That isn’t a branding choice. It’s a professional boundary.

Divorce coaching works best when it remains separate from legal representation. Recently, there’s been a growing trend of lawyers hiring divorce coaches into their firms and attempting to define standards and credentials for the profession. While often well intentioned, this blurs roles and creates real risk for clients.

When lawyers employ or govern divorce coaches:

• Coaching can shift from neutral guidance to litigation support
• Resolution may take a back seat to legal process
• Clients lose a truly independent space to question direction and strategy
• Cost and time containment can quietly become secondary

Divorce coaching is not legal work. It should not be governed by legal professionals. Its value lies precisely in being independent from the legal system while working alongside it.

An independent coach can step back and ask the questions that matter most:
Is this necessary? Is this helping? Is this moving things forward?

Without independence, coaching risks becoming just another layer of the legal process rather than a safeguard against it. 

I actively encourage clients to work with qualified lawyers and to obtain independent legal advice at the appropriate stages. Legal advice is essential. Clear boundaries make it effective.

When roles are respected:

• Lawyers focus on legal advice and representation
• I focus on clarity, preparation, and decision support
• Clients use legal time more intentionally
• Resolution happens faster, with lower overall cost

Different roles. Clear boundaries. Better outcomes.