The Best Divorce Coaching Certification Programs

Last updated on July 29, 2024

The acute need for managing the consequences of divorce is one of the reasons why the American Bar Association included Divorce Coaching in the list of alternative dispute resolution methods, explaining it as “a flexible, goal-oriented process designed to support, motivate, and guide people going through a divorce.” What this means for divorce coaches is that there is a significant demand for their services. 

If you want to pursue a lucrative career as a divorce coach while aiding people through a difficult transition, the best divorce coaching certifications can help you gain experience and qualifications in this profession. 

• Certified Divorce Coach – Best Overall
• Divorce Coach Institute – Best for Professional Development
• High Conflict Divorce Coach (HCDC) – Best for High Conflict Training
• Divorce Coaches Academy – Best for ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) Approach
• The International Divorce Coach Centre of Excellence – Best for Multi-Level Learning

What Is a Certified Divorce Coach

A certified divorce coach is a life coach who provides clients with guidance and support so they can deal with this emotionally draining change in a healthier manner. With the help of divorce coaching, clients can minimize the negative impact of divorce on their well-being and their family. 

Divorce coaching includes assisting and guiding clients through different stages of the divorce process. They can help clients with conflict resolution, financial discrepancies caused by a divorce, parenting, and more. 

Over a series of sessions, the coach can assess the client’s situation and struggles, help them to set goals, motivate them to take action, guide them through handling affected relationships, and help them to regain confidence. 

How To Become a Certified Divorce Coach

You can become a certified divorce coach through one of many certification programs. Even though certification isn’t mandatory for divorce coaches, it is a must in terms of attracting clients and gaining knowledge and techniques to work in this field. 

It’s important that you weigh your options and consider what you want to focus on to choose the right certification. For example, if you want to niche in high-conflict coaching, you’ll seek a program with that specialization; if you already have divorce coaching experience, you can enroll in a more advanced course that will introduce you to new tools.

In addition to obtaining certification, there are certain traits that a skilled divorce coach should embody:

• Communication skills
• Listening skills
• Supportive attitude
• Patience
• Problem-solving skills
• Empathy
• Ability to set boundaries

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Divorce Coaching Training

Besides the desired approach to divorce coaching, you should also consider other relevant factors to make the best decision. These factors include the cost, course duration, and accreditation. 

Program Cost

Considering that there are so many different programs, the certification fee also varies widely. You can pay as little as a couple of hundred dollars and as much as several thousand dollars for certification. 

Course Length

Certified divorce coach training can last anywhere from a couple of days to a year. What influences the duration is whether the program is self-paced or has a set class schedule. This leaves you room to choose the length of your studies based on your study preference and the timeline of your business objectives.

Accreditation

Divorce coach certifications don’t need to be accredited. However, some seek accreditation as this gives them validation that the program was verified by a reputable third body. The most well-known accrediting entity is the International Coach Federation (ICF), but the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Standards Agency is also world-renowned. 

Best Coaching Certifications for Becoming a Divorce Coach

Top Pick: Certified Divorce Coach

Certified Divorce Coach (CDC) set the Professional Standard for Personal Divorce Coaching™, and their certification is federally registered and recognized in the US, UK, and Canada. To apply for the CDC Board of Standards® certification, you first need to enroll and complete the CDC College for Divorce Coaching® program. 

The robust curriculum includes in-depth learning material about divorce coaching and proven tools and techniques, and it will teach you skills to create a safe environment for clients. You’ll be introduced to a variety of divorce coaching models, including The DivorceRelief®, F.O.C.U.S.™, C.O.R.E.™, and many more. You’ll also learn the boundaries between divorce coaching and the practice of therapy, law, mediation, and financial analysis, so you can set realistic expectations for clients. 

There’s a lot of opportunity to practice your new skills as well since you’ll spend 6 weeks working with a mentor and 4 weeks engaged in peer coaching. You will also get frameworks and materials that you can later use with your clients.

• Course Length: 12 weeks
• Program Cost: $3,800
• Accreditation: ICF; CPD
• Mode of Delivery: Online

Professional Development Option: Divorce Coach Institute

Divorce Coach Institute offers an information-packed program for those who already have some experience in the field. To enroll in their Divorce Transformation: Divorce (and Break-up) Coach Training Program, you need to have one of these prerequisites: 

• Proof of completion of a general coach training program
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, Social Work, Mental health, or similar)
• Proof of completion of a Paralegal Certification program
• Juris Doctorate (JD) degree
• Certification as a Family/Divorce Mediator
• License or certification in a relevant financial profession (Accountant, Financial Planner, or similar)

Through 10 modules, you’ll learn about coaching practices, divorce psychology, legal and financial aspects of divorce, and how to do personal assessment. On top of that, they’ll give you tips and advice on how to create an effective marketing plan for your coaching practice. 

The program includes supervised self-study, a personalized strategy session with the founder, group work, and monthly Zoom learning sessions.

• Course Length: Self-paced
• Program Cost: $995
• Accreditation: None
• Mode of Delivery: Online

High Conflict Training Option: High Conflict Divorce Coach (HCDC)

Choosing a divorce coaching specialty can help you target individuals in a specific situation. If you want your niche to be high-conflict divorce coaching, the High Conflict Divorce Coach (HCDC) program is the best choice.

In case you aren’t familiar with this niche, high-conflict coaches assist in managing the challenges of divorce, the custody of children, and collaborating as parents with high-conflict individuals such as narcissists, manipulators, and other toxic personalities.

The HCDC is the only program that certifies you as a High Conflict Divorce Coach or Consultant. Some areas that this course focuses on are understanding toxic behaviors, leaving a toxic relationship, co-parenting with a toxic individual, navigating the family court system, and starting over after an unhealthy relationship.

• Course Length: 8 weeks
• Program Cost: $4,999
• Accreditation: None
• Mode of Delivery: Online

ADR Option: Divorce Coaches Academy

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) practices refer to mediation or acting as a neutral body to assist the conflicting individuals in reaching an agreement. If you want to apply this to your divorce coaching strategies, the Divorce Coaches Academy offers a program that combines ADR, conflict management techniques, and a proven coaching framework to help you build a successful career.

The course covers the ADR foundation, conflict resolution techniques and skills, transforming co-parenting, and how to consistently find a way to a peaceful solution. Mentor support, mock coaching sessions, and a community of peers are some of the many perks of this program. 

Their list of available trainings includes further specialization in Pre-Mediation Divorce Coaching, Divorce Conflict Coaching, and Conflicted Co-Parenting Coaching, but at the moment, these programs are unavailable and you can only join the waiting list. 

• Course Length: 10 weeks
• Program Cost: $3,250
• Accreditation: None
• Mode of Delivery: Online

Multi-Level Option: The International Divorce Coach Centre of Excellence

The International Divorce Coach Centre of Excellence programs work well for aspiring coaches and those with experience as they have coaching programs tailored to both.

The Practitioner Accreditation Program will prepare you for building a successful coaching business as a breakup and divorce coach, even if you have no coaching experience. The extensive educational journey will walk you through proven divorce coaching techniques, handling clients, establishing a coaching practice, and mistakes to avoid. 

What’s exceptionally valuable for beginners is that you’ll also get 1 year of live coaching with the founder and monthly live sessions with global experts on mediation, law, business, and other relevant topics.

For more experienced individuals or those who have completed the Practitioner program, there’s the Master Practitioner Accreditation Program. This one dives deeper into the field of divorce coaching and comes with an advanced coaching tool kit, techniques for navigating toxic relationships, working with clients on an energetic level, and much more. In addition, you’ll have 10 live sessions with the founder and buddy coaching sessions.

• Course Length: Self-paced
• Program Cost: £2,497 for each program
• Accreditation: CPD
• Mode of Delivery: Online

Alternatives (non-niche)

Not totally sold on pursuing certification in divorce coaching? Would you like to enhance your overall coaching confidence and learn how to set up a profitable coaching business? You can acquire this expertise by enrolling in life coaching certification programs. Additionally, other trainings like relationship coaching, happiness coaching, or transition coaching can be applied in your practice as divorce coach.

Transformation Academy and Coach Training Alliance are our preferred choices for life programs because they provide accreditation, comprehensive course content, and practical experience at a reasonable price. If you want to know more, you can check out our TA and CTA reviews.

Special Offer: Get 50% off all certification programs at Transformation Academy by clicking our link or entering code LIFECOACHMAG at checkout.

FAQs

• What is the average divorce coach salary?

Life coaches earn approximately $62,500 to $245,000 per year, according to iPEC.

• Do you need a certification to be a divorce coach?

While certification isn’t legally required to establish a divorce coaching business, it is necessary in terms of acquiring expertise and credentials that will convince clients of your abilities.

• How much does a divorce coach certification cost?

The average cost is around $3,000–$5,000 for a comprehensive certified divorce coaching training program.

• Does accreditation matter in a divorce coach certification program?

Accreditation only matters if you want to have additional recognition; however, many programs that aren’t accredited have built a strong reputation in the divorce coaching industry. 

• What is the most recognized coaching certification? 

It’s difficult to name the winner of the most recognized coaching program, as new reputable certifications are constantly emerging. If you want recognition, you can aim for an accredited program. ICF or CPD accreditation will give you name recognition in every circle. 

Conclusion

The number of divorces in the US in 2021 was a sky-high figure of 689,308—not to mention the unregistered couples who separate after a committed life together. This leaves a lot of people struggling with the aftermath of such hardship and needing the help of a divorce coach.

If you feel ready to venture into the field of divorce coaching and help people deal with this life-altering change, you can enroll in one of these great programs to attain your certification and boost your skills. 

Do you want to work on your life coaching skills simultaneously? You can enroll in one of many Transformation Academy and Coach Training Alliance programs to expand your expertise and gain more skills. 

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