Agree. Referring to the collaborative team as the professional team allows us
to refer to everyone, including the clients, as the full team, as in full team
meeting. They may be “professionals” in their working life but in this scenario
they are the clients. It is not unique that the hired professionals are
referred to as that, whether in medicine, decorating or plumbing, without
denigrating anyone else in the room.
Joelle
On May 13, 2018, at 11:28 AM, Robert Merlin
rmerlin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:rmerlin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> [CollabLaw]
<CollabLaw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:CollabLaw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
My view is that the best way for a couple to resolve their differences is to
sit down and respectfully and maturely discuss and resolve the issues. We are
needed when the couple is not able/willing to do that. The reason we are
sitting at the table is because of the expertise we have. Without that
expertise, there is no reason to be at the table. That does not mean that we
act superior, but the reality is that we are professionals in our chosen
fields. The clients recognize that, which is why they retain us. Why should
there be a problem with us recognizing what the clients already recognize?
Bob Merlin
Sent from my iPhone
On May 13, 2018, at 8:26 AM,
roymartin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:roymartin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> [CollabLaw]
<CollabLaw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:CollabLaw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
Thanks for raising this issue. I've had an uneasiness similar to Adam's. While
I agree with Kevin and others that people have not expressed concern or
discomfort, I have discomfort because it creates a subtle but not-so-subtle
sense of separation, regardless of whether others on the team are themselves
professionals. Like we're holding ourselves out as superior to the spouses. At
the same time, there needs to be a way to refer to the professionals on the
team separate from the divorcing parties.
I like the suggestion "Collaborative Support Team" or just "Support Team". I'm
not sure others in my group would share this concern; I tend to be something of
an outlier (though apparently not the only one). Will run it past them.
