Divorce Coaching And The Winter Divorce Phenomenon

As the winter season approaches, many associate it with festive holidays, cozy nights by the fireplace, and a time of togetherness. However, there’s a lingering question that has intrigued researchers and relationship experts alike: Do divorce rates really increase during the winter, and if so, what might be the reasons behind this phenomenon?

Statistically the answer is no, however, the holidays do have a significant role to play. The largest number of divorce filings occur during January, followed closely by July and August. What does this mean for a CDC Certified Divorce Coach®? It means there will be an increase in people needing help and guidance to make it through the divorce process with the best outcome possible for their future. There are various factors that might contribute to an increased winter divorce trend.

Possible Explanations:

1. Holiday Stress: One prominent theory suggests that couples may experience heightened stress during the holiday season, leading to increased conflicts and tensions. The pressure to create a perfect holiday experience, coupled with financial strain and family expectations, could potentially strain relationships.
2. Reflection and Evaluation: The end of the year often prompts individuals to reflect on their lives and relationships. The winter season, with its shorter days and longer nights, may provide more time for introspection. Couples may find themselves reevaluating their relationships, leading to a higher likelihood of initiating divorce proceedings.
3. New Beginnings in the New Year: The start of a new year often symbolizes a fresh start and the opportunity for personal growth. Some individuals may decide to pursue a divorce as part of their New Year’s resolutions, seeking a new chapter in their lives.
4. Weather-Related Factors: Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression linked to changes in seasons, could play a role in relationship dynamics. The winter blues might contribute to mood changes and impact how individuals perceive their marriages, potentially influencing the decision to divorce.
5. Cohabitation Stress: Spending more time indoors due to colder weather may lead to increased cohabitation stress. Couples who are not accustomed to spending extended periods together may find themselves facing challenges that were previously easier to avoid.

One way to lessen the stress and the emotional impact of the divorce process on not only you, but your children/family (if applicable) is to hire a CDC Certified Divorce Coach® before you ever start the divorce proceedings.  A divorce coach is not a substitute for an attorney and cannot offer you legal advice, but a CDC Certified Divorce Coach® can help you manage the emotional turmoil that will inevitably arise and help you move forward through the divorce process in the best possible way.  Relationships are complex, influenced by a multitude of factors that extend beyond the changing seasons.

The winter months may serve as a catalyst for introspection and evaluation, prompting some couples to reevaluate their unions. Understanding the dynamics of relationships requires a comprehensive examination of individual circumstances, personal choices, and societal influences. A CDC Certified Divorce Coach® approaches the topic of divorce with sensitivity and a recognition of the diverse factors that contribute to the complexities of human relationships. The role of the divorce coach is to help the individual considering divorce have their eyes wide open about how divorce will impact many aspects of their life so that they can weigh those to determine if divorce is the right thing for them. We are not marriage and family therapists, and we are committed to helping them make the best possible decisions for themselves and their family. We can also refer them to a family law attorney to help them understand their legal rights and responsibilities related to divorce (and co-parenting).

A divorce coach helps navigate through the emotional element of the process and allows their client to focus in on their opportunities, their future, and can make the emotionally overwhelming and daunting task of ploughing through the divorce process smoother and more manageable.  Knowing what to expect in the divorce process helps not only manage expectations, it also diminishes anxiety, and saves time and money in the long run. 

Our role as a CDC Certified Divorce Coach® is not to overstep our boundaries or make someone fit into our image of what we think should be done; rather it’s to support them in becoming the architect of their own life. From this point forward their decisions will be made solely on their own, rather than as a couple – help them lay the foundation for their future decisions by letting them take ownership of their new role.

Personal Divorce Coaching fills a gap and works in a very practical AND transformative way with individual clients.  The roll-up-your-sleeves kind of work that a CDC Certified Divorce Coach® does helps the client in ways that are different from a Therapist, a Mediator, and an Attorney, and complements their work in helping the client to make the best decisions for their future based on their wants, don’t wants, and their needs. 

CDC Certified Divorce Coaches® know and understand first-hand the impact that divorce can have on individuals and families. They bring compassion and confidence into their coaching and enable their clients to focus on the business part of divorce rather than become overwhelmed at the emotional aspect of the process.

If you’re interested in becoming a CDC Certified Divorce Coach®, registration is open for the CDC® Certified Divorce Coach Training and Certification January 2024 class. If you want to participate in the Early Bonus Program included with the course, you must get your enrollment form in before November 24th so you gain access to the Get Clients for Divorce Coaching course which starts November 28.

To learn more about becoming a CDC Certified Divorce Coach® visit (https://certifieddivorcecoach.com/looking-for-divorce-coach-training/ ) or schedule a call with one of our co-founders.

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