About Us

The Collaborative Professionals Group of Southeast Louisiana is a dynamic group of attorneys, mental health and financial professionals who are dedicated to the principles and practice of Interdisciplinary Collaborative Divorce. In alliance with the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, our goal is for Collaborative Divorce to become the predominant method for helping families through the divorce process. We stand ready to guide and support you in creating a healthy, respectful solution to your family transition.

All members of the Collaborative Professionals Group of Southeast Louisiana have undergone training in the interdisciplinary model of Collaborative Divorce and belong to the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. Many of our professionals have trained with the founders of the collaborative divorce movement and participate in local, national and international education and training opportunities. (Find a Collaborative Professional)

HISTORY OF THE COLLABORATIVE DIVORCE MOVEMENT IN LOUISIANA

Collaborative Law was created in 1990 in Minnesota, with a model that primarily involved lawyers and their clients. The model spread to California in 1993, where an interdisciplinary model was developed that included lawyers, clients, coaches, child specialist and financial specialist in the collaborative process. In 2002, Judge Ross Foote of the 9th Judicial District Court for Rapides Parish traveled across the United States looking for a collaborative model to bring to Louisiana. He did extensive research before selecting the interdisciplinary model. At Judge Foote’s request, the creators of the Interdisciplinary Collaborative Divorce model designed the “perfect model” then came to Alexandria Louisiana to train a very enthusiastic group of professionals. It was here that Collaborative Practice began in Louisiana.

In November 2003, twelve professionals from Southeast Louisiana attended a Collaborative Divorce training offered in Alexandria Louisiana. Elated by a model of divorcing without court intervention and the propensity to destroy families, the New Orleans group quickly bonded and met for the first time as a practice group on December 5, 2003. To expand the knowledge of Collaborative Practice to professionals in the New Orleans area, their first task was to organize a local training. With great success, the training was offered through Loyola Law School and attracted 300 professionals.

Now known as the Collaborative Professionals Group of Southeast Louisiana LLC (CPGSEL), it is only one of five groups of Collaborative Divorce professionals across the state. Others include: The Collaborative Professionals Group of: Central Louisiana (CENLA), Acadiana, North Louisiana and the Bayou region. CPGSEL currently has 70+ active members.

MEMBERSHIP:

Members of CPGSEL must be licensed professionals in good standing, must take a two-day introductory level training in the collaborative process, and must obtain continuing collaborative education throughout their membership. It is recommended that all collaborative professionals obtain mediation training. It is also recommended that collaborative professionals obtain specialization credentials, such as attorneys becoming Board Certified in Family Law, or financial specialists becoming Certified Divorce Financial Analyst. (Membership Requirements)

Membership in the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP) is mandatory for all CPGSEL members. This requirement reflects our commitment to continuing education in Collaborative Practice, to stay abreast of developments in this rapidly evolving field and to provide public education on an international level. (IACP website)

CPGSEL currently has practice groups which meet monthly on different days, times and locations to accommodate all members. Practice groups gather to get to know one another, gain trust, discuss the dynamics of difficult cases, share strategies and grow in the collaborative process. (Practice Group Schedule)

CPGSEL currently has a very hard working and dedicated Board of Directors of 15 professionals equally represented by profession. The board works to educate the public about Collaborative Divorce, train professionals in the Collaborative Divorce model and maintain the integrity of Collaborative Practice. (Meet the Board)

The formation of a statewide “umbrella” named the Collaborative Professionals Group of Louisiana is in the works. The goal of CPG of Louisiana is for collaborative professionals throughout the state to have a uniform approach to handling collaborative cases, to maintain the integrity of the process and to enhance the likelihood of favorable outcomes.