Emily Weaver (Mental Health Professional)

General Comments

Commitment, Respect, Integrity. These words hold important meaning to Emily, and she measures herself against these words in her work with collaborative practice clients. The collaborative divorce process requires a commitment from every member of the team to treat each other, and the process itself, with integrity and respect. Emily believes that this commitment offers an opportunity to move through a divorce without the devastation often associated with the traditional court based model of divorce, and offers the potential for relational growth and healing.

Emily assists clients to bring their best selves forward to make agreements that will serve the needs of the entire family. In this time of pain and confusion, she helps clients to manage complex emotions, identify needs and goals, and communicate in a clear and productive manner. She believes that the interdisciplinary team approach to collaborative practice offers clients a support system that optimizes the family’s ability move through this difficult transition and to create a new family system (when a couple has children), to allow for growth and healing in the future. After the divorce, Emily remains available to work with her clients, on an as needed basis, to assist in further post divorce transitions.

Emily’s work as a collaborative divorce coach is informed by her experience of working for sixteen years as a family law paralegal. Her legal experience, combined with her experience and training as a mental health professional, give her a unique perspective in working with collaborative divorce clients, ending a marriage or domestic partnership. Emily received her BA from the University of California, and a MA in Clinical Psychology from John F. Kennedy University. She has trained extensively in Powerful Non Defensive Communication. She is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice in Oakland, California. Emily is a founding member of the Alliance of Collaborative Professionals, and on the Steering Committee of that group. She is also a member of the International Association of Collaborative Professionals, Collaborative Practice California, and the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.