deb@drdebgilman.com

1386 Old Freeport Rd, Suite 3B, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15238, United States

(412) 436-9302

(412) 436-9302

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The Collaborative Divorce Process: A Deeper Dive

Why Collaborative?

Collaborative divorce is built to reduce harm and increase durable agreements. Instead of “win/lose,” your team designs a path forward that protects children, preserves resources, and keeps decisions with the people who know the family best—you.

  • Private & respectful: Guided conversations, not courtroom cross-exams.
  • Child-centered: Plans reflect your child’s development, temperament, and daily life.
  • Team-based: Attorneys advocate, neutrals keep momentum, and the process stays humane.


Who’s on Your Team (and What They Do)

YOUR Attorneys

Your dedicated advocates negotiate in good faith and commit to settlement-only representation.

Dr. Deb Gilman -coach

I manage the process temperature, prepare each parent for meetings, build communication scripts, and help translate values into workable agreements.

Dr. Deb - child specialist

I meet with your child(ren) in a developmentally appropriate way, then share neutral themes with the team to inform the parenting plan. This is not an evaluation; it is the child’s experience—safely included.

financial neutral

Creates shared clarity around budgets, assets, support modeling, and long-term sustainability.

other specialists

Realtors, Therapists, Education Experts, Religious Personnel, and other specialists can be added, as needed, to solve specific problems efficiently.

The Roadmap (Typical Flow)

(1) intake & getting grounded

(2) ORIENTATION & PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT

(2) ORIENTATION & PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT

History, current stressors, non-negotiables, and what “better” looks like. We set initial supports (coaching, parent scripts, school communications).

(2) ORIENTATION & PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT

(2) ORIENTATION & PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT

(2) ORIENTATION & PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT

We align on ground rules: full, honest information sharing; respectful communication; settlement-only attorneys; confidentiality parameters.

(3) Team Launch Meeting

(2) ORIENTATION & PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT

(4) child specialist meetings

Shared goals, issues list, roles, timeline, and decision-making framework. We keep meetings short, structured, and purposeful.

(4) child specialist meetings

(6) Drafting, Testing & Refining

(4) child specialist meetings

  • Child meetings (age-attuned, non-evaluative)
  • Review of daily routines, school, friendships, transitions
  • Feedback to parents & team—clear themes to guide the plan

(5) focused work sessions

(6) Drafting, Testing & Refining

(6) Drafting, Testing & Refining

We design the parenting plan in digestible modules (see child specialist). Financial and legal items move in parallel to save time. Options are proposed and discussed with the full team. 

(6) Drafting, Testing & Refining

(6) Drafting, Testing & Refining

(6) Drafting, Testing & Refining

You practice the plan in real life (pilot weekends, communication scripts). We adjust based on what works. We test out the settlement options to make sure agreed upon proposals work. 

(7) Finalize & Future-Proof

(7) Finalize & Future-Proof

(7) Finalize & Future-Proof

We lock in agreements, add repair pathways for predictable bumps, and outline how you’ll revisit terms as kids grow.

Copyright © 2025 Dr. Deborah Gilman - All Rights Reserved.

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