Dealing with Grief in the Dispute Resolution Process

Join me at 12 noon for a presentation on Dealing With Grief in the Dispute Resolution Process hosted by the Collaborative Council of the Redwood Empire at the Finley Center in Santa Rosa CA.

To Grieve or Not to Grieve: The Role of Grief in the Settlement of Divorce Cases
presented by Stephen H. Sulmeyer, J.D., Ph.D

There are many levels of loss that our clients are called upon to grieve when their marriage is ending: loss of the marriage; loss of their former partner, lover and friend; loss of their dream of lasting happiness; loss of their community; loss of being with their children daily; and much more. These are frequently accompanied by the re‐awakening of unresolved childhood woundings that were never fully grieved, including feelings of being abandoned or betrayed; of not feeling loved, or valued, or good enough; of not feeling understood, heard or known; or of feeling desperately lonely and afraid. Understanding and connecting with our clients’ grief, and recognizing their capacity and willingness—or lack thereof—to grieve what has been lost can sometimes make the difference between resolution and impasse, and certainly can powerfully affect their experience of the divorce process. In this presentation, Stephen Sulmeyer will walk us through some of the levels of grief that are often present in our divorce cases, and suggest ways in which we can work sensitively with our clients’ grief in a way that supports the resolution of their case in the deepest sense.

On: Wednesday, June 24, 2015
At: Finley Community Center (Person Senior Wing, Rm #21, upstairs)
2060 W. College Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Time: Networking and Lunch 12:00 – 12:30 pm
Program: 12:30 – 1:30 pm
Program Fee: $10
Program with Box Lunch Option: $25