ASK THE DIVORCE COACH©, SUSAN ALLAN

For one hour free relationship coaching, susanallan@thedivorceforum.com

WHAT IS INTIMACY?

 “Intimacy is when you're intertwining your physical, emotional, spiritual and mental bodies with each other in a dance of love and both open to giving and receiving. You transcend to that level of silence and oneness and merge into God which is the ultimate intimacy.” Robert M. Place

The following coaching exercise was developed by William Stierle using Herrmann Brain Dominance ™ thinking styles:

“Intimacy is a relationship characterized by firm loyalty, strong mutual support, a shared view of the world, mutual self-disclosure and shared vulnerability.” William Stierle of Corporate Culture Development in Los Angeles .

Give a copy of this to your spouse and to any adult children and keep one for yourself. Read the 10 TYPES of INTIMACY listed below and mark the most like you to the least like you from 1-10. For an explanation of couples, families and intimate connections employing this understanding, please read this column next week.

Dear Divorce Coach,

He says he loves his wife and family. I feel it's a strange way to show it. Now, when I've given up, he's trying. He isn't affecting me, I know how long this will last, (been there, done that) but the kids are taken in. They want their family to be normal. So I'm the bad guy. We have 200 acres, a new house, a horse barn, for my 20+ horses and he has about 250-300 head of cattle. Kinda tough to split. He keeps saying he won't let me leave, and honestly, it won't be easy.

Old cow hand; even older story

Dear Old,

Currently, one of my clients lives on hundreds of acres with her family. When we began our work, 3 telephone sessions ago, they were separated and filing for divorce. She felt very angry because her need for support and consideration weren't met. When she learned a new way to speak based on Nonviolent Communication™, it turned around. Now they have reconciled. I offer 1 free phone coaching session. Her most important realization was that she expected her husband to be her and she did not appreciate that he is different. She now understands that his differences provide their lifestyle which is so different from her own background and skills.

Sincerely yours,

Ask The Divorce Coach, Susan Allan  

CLIENT: “ Thank you very much for the quick response to my question. I will share The 7 Stages of Divorce. You have no idea how much I appreciate this. Thank you very much.” A H Studio City , CA

Dear Divorce Coach,

How do I know when it is time for a divorce?  This is my second marriage and i am feeling like i did when i was married the first time.  I had one child with my first husband and i have one child with this husband.  We have begun to fight more often and verbal and physical abuse has begun to happen more often. Do we try therapy or end it before we take it any further.  I have noticed him also trying to use my oldest daughter against me.  What do i do?????  Please help.

Two Strikes?

Dear Two,

You ask the key question about relationships. Consider only one question, "do you love him"? and start there. If you are not sure, if you want to save this or want out and if you want the best deal, these are a few of my coaching topics. After the honeymoon phase, it is crucial to understand how to find peace yourself and how to listen and to speak to your husband or others. I am guessing that you feel frustrated or angry or sad and because you have not learned how to return to peace, your own inner state may trigger some of the disagreements.

Signed. 

Ask The Divorce Coach, Susan Allan

How often have you looked into your Beloved's face without judgments or connected deeply within yourself without criticism? Are you exhausted from the inner turmoil and the outer façade you maintain? Are you worried by your spouse's duality; balancing a calm veneer over panic, agony, or rage? Do you remember the 7 Stages of Divorce or Overcoming Trauma: panic, denial, agony, rage, epiphany, negotiation and peace? Finding peace in the face of any situation is the #1 component to a peaceful life and may require decades of inner work. When you can observe your thoughts and either let go or turn them around, you can use peace as the spring-board to strategic planning. This is what the Titans of Industry have learned; this is what the Masters of Meditation have discovered, this is what happily married couples actually do!

For 101 Divorce Survival Secrets, and free E-zine, visit www.thedivorceforum.com , with Collaborative Divorce information. For one hour of free, private telephone coaching, contact susanallan@thedivorceforum.com