• Attorneys and Lawyers
• Business Valuators/CPAs
• Certified Divorce Financial Analysts
• Collaborative Divorce
• Counselling/Therapy
• Courses/Workshops
• Debt Relief
• Divorce Ceremonies

• Domestic Abuse
• Estate Planning
• Financial
• Mediation
• Parents/Children
• Singles
• Support Groups

Sub Office:
9 North Vail Avenue
Arlington Heights, IL 60005

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Mediation

Joan Colmar, Jodie Sheffield
Transition Life Consultants
(847) 446-6640
www.transitionlifeconsultants.com
transitionlife@aol.com
The TLC Team brings experience and compassion as they guide you and your partner through the neutral, confidential, and non-binding process of resolving conflict through mediation. Rather than a judge, you control the important decisions regarding your family and finances. Mediation is forward-focused and fosters understanding, respect, and cooperation.

Karen A. Covy (The Law Offices of)
(312) 236-1670
www.karencovy.com
karen@KarenCovy.com
Karen Covy is a highly successful divorce attorney and mediator in Chicago, and the author of the book When Happily Ever After Ends. She is also the founder of Midwest Mediation, a company dedicated to helping couples resolve their family disputes outside of the court system whenever possible. Covy volunteers as a facilitator in the Domestic Relations Division of the Cook County Court system, helping couples resolve their divorce disputes with minimal court intervention.

Brian James, Divorce and Family Mediator
C.E.L. & Associates
(312) 524-5829
www.YourDivorce.org
bjames@celandassociates.com
As a former domestic violence probation officer, Brian helped high conflict couples work out amicable divorces on a daily basis. Today, he effectively mediates pre- and post- divorce issues with both parties and specializes in assisting families with custody and visitation agreements. Offices throughout Chicago, the suburbs, and Southeastern Wisconsin.

Jerald A. Kessler
(847) 367-4500
www.kesslermediation.com
jakessler@igc.org
Jerald Kessler is a highly respected veteran divorce mediator. A past president of the Mediation Council of Illinois, he has focused primarily on mediation for more than fifteen years. Not only has Kessler developed a mastery of the process, he has also taught classes and given seminars on mediation throughout the U.S. In addition, he participated in the development of the American Bar Association's Model Standards of Practice for Family and Divorce Mediation. Offices in Chicago, Northfield, and Libertyville.

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Dr. Deborah Hecker
4100 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC, 20016
Phone: 888-777-3585
Fax: 305-365-9609
Web site: www.drdeborahhecker.com
email: ppDebbieP@aol.com
VIEW HER Divorce Magazine Online Profile
Dr. Deborah Hecker runs a nationwide phone-counseling service for divorce recovery. With three decades of private psychotherapy experience, Dr. Hecker's divorce counseling has helped hundreds of people face their challenges and build successful lives.

The Center for Divorce Recovery
Rick Tivers, L.C.S.W., or Chet Mirman, Ph.D
633 Skokie Boulevard, Suite 260 Northbrook, IL 60062
Phone: (847) 412-0280
Fax: (847) 291-0576
Website: www.divorce-recovery.com
e-mail: ctrdivorcerec@aol.com
The Center for Divorce Recovery specializes in divorce-related emotional and relationship issues. Its experienced staff helps individuals and families develop tools to work through the difficult issues involved in divorce, and helps them break unhealthy relationship patterns. The group offers divorce mediation, seminars, and workshops, as well as individual and family therapy groups for children, adolescents, and adults. Offices are located in Chicago, Northbrook, Des Plaines, and Lake Bluff. Call for more information.
VIEW THEIR Divorce Magazine Profile ONLINE

Family Development Center
Phone: (708) 461-7927
Contact: Paul McNulty
The Family Development Center provides family, individual, and group counseling for those who have experienced or are experiencing divorce. The center also offers therapy and dynamic groups for children experiencing the pain of divorce. Children frequently feel a sense of shame, fear, loss and even despair when divorce hits, these feelings can be normalized when meeting with others experiencing the same loss. Play therapy is available for younger children. Christian counseling is also available.

The Marriage and Family Counseling Service
Phone: (312) 603-1540
Contact: David Royko, Psy.D.
A department of the Office of the Chief Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County, Domestic Relations Division. There is no charge for MFCS services. Clients are seen by court order only. Judges are mandated by Court Rule to issue an order when parents are in dispute over their children. We mediate custody and visitation disputes, not property, financial, or support issues.

Next Step Counseling Referral Service
Phone: (888) 332-2110
Website: www.counselingreferrals.com
This service offers free, confidential referrals to licensed psychotherapists throughout Chicagoland.

Southwest Women Working Together
Phone: (773) 737-2500
Contact: Jolene or Heather
Website: www.swwt.org
e-mail: swwt@megsinet.net
A counseling program for women experiencing separation and divorce. Its capable and caring staff will be able to help you get back on your feet with dignity. Also provides counseling for domestic violence and sexual assault.

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Courses/Workshops

The Lilac Tree: Resources for Divorcing Women
Support Groups for Divorcing Women
Phone: (847) 328-0313
Contact: Carol Patinkin, MSW
Website: www.thelilactree.org
e-mail: info@thelilactree.org
Are you currently going through divorce? Having support and friendship from other women going through divorce at the same time as you is vital and empowering. Please consider joining a Lilac Tree Support Group to help you with the emotions of divorce, share your experiences, meet other women, and make new friends.

Our eight-week support groups are led by a licensed clinical social worker and limited in size from six to eight women.

Upcoming Eight-Week Support Groups
Thursday mornings
10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Evanston
Start Date: Sept. 18th, 2008

Tuesday Evenings
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Highland Park
Start Date: Sept. 23rd, 2008

Tuesday Evenings
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Evanston
Start Date: October 21st, 2008

Pre-registration & Deposit Required. $240

Partial Scholarships are Available

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Divorce Ceremonies

Divorce, Healing Ceremonies
Honor your life transition with a dignified and personalized Divorce Ceremony.
Phone: (973) 746-1792
Contact: Charlotte Eulette, National Director
e-mail: charlotte@celebrantusa.com
The Celebrant Foundation assists you and your loved ones in creating customized ceremonies to honor life's milestones, with 400 Celebrants throughout North America who create and officiate at virtually every life-cycle event, including divorces, for individuals, couples, and families. These custom-designed ceremonies reflect people's needs, beliefs, and values. Visit their website for Divorce, Healing and Transition Ceremonies, sample ceremonies, ceremony scripts and press: www.celebrantusa.com/divorce.html

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Domestic Abuse

Chicago Abused Women Coalition
P.O. Box 477916, Chicago, IL 60647
24-Hour Hotline: (773) 278-4566
Fax: (773) 278-2616
Website: www.cawc.org
e-mail: cawcadmin@mindspring.com
Non-profit organization dedicated to ending violence against women. Provides abused women and their children with safe refuge and support services.

Rainbow House
P.O. Box 29019, Chicago, IL 60629
Business Phone: (312) 521-5501
24-Hour Crisis Line: (312) 762-6611
Offering a 24-hour emergency shelter, Rainbow House provides prevention and intervention services in both Spanish and English.

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Parents/Children

Fatherhood Educational Institute
19 South LaSalle, Suite 450, Chicago
Phone: (312) 795-9060
Website: www.fatherhood-edu.org
Committed to helping develop a world where indigent fathers are involved in the lives of their families and to help develop families that are a united, healthy, and vibrant entity.

Illinois Collaboration on Youth
200 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 400, Chicago 60601
Phone: (312) 704-1257
Fax: (312) 704-1265
Website: www.youthnetworkcouncil.org
A statewide membership organization, advocates on behalf of young people and their families, and provides support for organizations and individuals that serve them within their communities. Provides information and education by means of seminars, forums, publications, and online communication to individuals and organizations that serve young people and their families at the local level.

Parents Without Partners
Phone: (847) 817-5687
Website: www.geocities.com/heartland/lake/5504
e-mail: PwP_Chapter247@hotmail.com
Parents without Partners (PWP) is an international, non-profit, educational organization of custodial and non-custodial parents: widowed, divorced, separated, or never married. Its objective is to provide understanding and mutual support to single parents, and help them deal with the problems of raising children in a one-parent household.

Rainbows
Phone: (800) 266-3206
Website: www.rainbows.org
e-mail: info@rainbows.org
Rainbows offers training and curricula for establishing peer support groups for children, adolescents, and adults who have experienced loss due to divorce or death.

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Support Groups

Divorce and Annulment Support
Family Ministries Office, Archdiocese of Chicago
Phone: (312) 751-8353
Fax: (312) 751-3858
Website: www.FamilyMinistries.org
e-mail: divorce@archchicago.org
A variety of resources can be obtained by contacting the office or website. Small groups of peer support are offered in a variety of locations in Cook and Lake Counties. Each group sets its own meeting time and agenda. Open to both men and women, these groups offer coping sessions for the newly divorced, group discussions, and presentations by qualified speakers. In addition, a list of Annulment Support ministers is available for anyone seeking investigation as to the sacramental validity of their marriage. Help is available in filling out forms and responding to the Tribunal. Upon request, an information packet can be mailed to you.

The Willowcreek Community Church
Phone: (847) 765-5000 ext. 1190
Contact: Mary Ulick
This Christian church provides pre- and post-divorce groups. People of all faiths are welcome to join the groups.

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National (USA)

Divorce, Healing Ceremonies
Honor your life transition with a dignified and personalized Divorce Ceremony.
Phone: (973) 746-1792
Contact: Charlotte Eulette, National Director
Website: www.celebrantusa.org
e-mail: charlotte@celebrantusa.com
The Celebrant Foundation of North America (U.S. & Canada) is a 501c3 non-profit organization. Our 400 Celebrants create and officiate at virtually every life-cycle event, including divorces, for individuals, couples, and families with a focus on custom-made ceremonies that genuinely reflect people's needs, beliefs, and values. Visit our website for Divorce, Healing and Transition Ceremonies, sample ceremonies, ceremony scripts and press:

Divorce Ceremony Page: www.celebrantusa.com/divorce.html
Choose a Celebrant near you: www.celebrantusa.com/map.html
Press stories in the News: www.celebrantusa.com/pressroom.html

American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)
112 South Alfred Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-3061
Phone: (703) 838-9808 Fax: (703) 838-9805
Website: www.aamft.org
e-mail: central@aamft.org
The professional association for the field of marriage and family therapy, representing the professional interests of more than 23,000 therapists throughout the United States, Canada, and abroad.

American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML)
150 North Michigan Ave., Suite 2040, Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: (312) 263-6477 Fax: (312) 263-7682
Website: www.aaml.org
e-mail: office@aaml.org
A national organization of family law attorneys committed to the highest standards. Provides referrals to first-rate matrimonial lawyers in your area.

American Coalition for Fathers & Children (ACFC)
Phone: (800) 978-DADS
Contact: Susan Antomarchi
Website: www.acfc.org
ACFC's aim is to restore equal rights for those affected by divorce, family breakup, and childbirth out of wedlock.

American Psychological Association
750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242
Phone: (800) 964-2000
Website: www.apa.org
A psychologist can help you cope with many of life's problems. The APA will use your zip code to locate and connect you with the referral system in your area.

Ariadne's Thread: Spa for the Soul: A Divorce Retreat for Women
Phone: (512) 472-6857
Contact: Lynn Cox
Website: www.ariadnesthread.com or www.aspaforthesoul.com
A divorce can damage a woman's spirit more than her bank account or lifestyle. This retreat is designed to nourish the body and soul and to help women redefine themselves, their lives, and their world views. Participants are guided through healing processes and life-enhancing techniques.

Association for Conflict Resolution
1527 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 667-9700 Fax: (202) 265-1968
Website: www.acrnet.org
e-mail: acr@acrnet.org
A professional organization dedicated to enhancing the practice and public understanding of conflict resolution.

Beginning Experience
Phone: (866) 610-8877 or (574) 283-0279
Website: www.beginningexperience.org
e-mail: imc@beginningexperience.org
Provides support and programs for separated, widowed, and divorced people and their children.

Center for Divorce Education
340 West State Street, Room 135C / Unit 8, Athens, OH 45701
Phone: (877) 874-1365 or (740) 597-2736
Fax: (740) 594-1724
Website: www.divorce-education.com
e-mail: divorce@frognet.net
A non-profit corporation created to educate the public, the court system, and law and policymakers about divorce-related issues, with a goal of minimizing the negative impact of divorce for families. Award-winning program "Children in the Middle" has been designated a "Model Program" for effectiveness.

Child Find of America
Phone: (800) A-WAY-OUT or (914) 255-1848
Contact: Ray Tomaselli
Website: www.childfindofamerica.org
e-mail: childfindamerica@aol.com
Mediation and support services to prevent and resolve parental abductions, discuss court issues, and search for runaway children.

Child Quest International
Phone: (408) 287-4673
24-Hour Sighting Line: (888) 818-HOPE
Contact: Marcia Slacke
Website: www.childquest.org
An organization devoted to the protection and recovery of missing children and at-risk adults as well as safety education.

Chopra Center at La Costa Resort and Spa
Phone: (888) 424-6772
Website: www.chopra.com
Offers workshops and programs to nurture body and soul, including: "Perfect Health", "Emotional Ecstasy","Reversal of Aging" and "The Shadow Process." Call for more information, including dates and pricing.

Depression and Bi-Polar Support Alliance (DBSA)
730 N. Franklin Street, Suite 501 Chicago, Illinois 60610-7204
Phone: (800) 826-3632 or (312) 642-0049
Website: www.DBSAlliance.org
The mission of the DBSA is to improve the lives of people living with mood disorders.

Equality in Marriage Institute
250 West 57th Street, Suite 2404, New York, NY 10107
Phone: (212) 489-5590
Fax: (212) 489-5332
Website: www.equalityinmarriage.org
Educates men and women on the importance of equality of marriage and divorce.

Ex-Pose (Ex-partners of Servicemen/Women for Equality)
Phone: (703) 941-5844
Alternate phone: (703) 255-2917 (after-hours)
Answers questions for divorcing military spouses. More services available for members.

The Financial Planning Association
Phone: (800) 322-4237 or (404) 845-0011 Fax: (404) 845-3660
Website: www.fpanet.org
The membership organization for the financial planning community. Offers services and resources to help the public understand the value of objective advice from a CFP professional.

The Grief Recovery Institute
The "Grief Recovery Outreach Program" is a 12-week program, facilitated by grief-recovery specialists certified by The Grief Recovery Institute. The program helps willing participants complete the pain caused by death, divorce, and other losses. The "Grief Recovery Certification Program" expands professional skills in this area of human experience. Some programs are fee based, some are sponsored.
Call (800) 334-7606 for information and referrals. All States -- Many Communities.
Website: www.grief.net

Institute for Certified Divorce Financial Analysts (IDFA)
24901 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 710, Southfiled, MI 48075
Phone: (800) 875-1760
Fax: (248) 233-0199
Website: www.InstituteDFA.com
The premier national organization dedicated to the certification, education, and promotion of the use of financial professionals in the divorce arena.

National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts
1111 Brickyard Road, Suite 200, Salt Lake City, UT 84106-5401
Phone: (801) 486-0600 Fax: (801) 486-7500
Website: www.nacva.com
e-mail: nacva@nacva.com
A global, professional association that supports the business-valuation and litigation-consulting disciplines within the CPA and professional communities.

National Center for Men
Phone: (516) 942-2020
An advocacy group that addresses fathers' rights during and after divorce with a male-positive point of view. Offers telephone counseling since 1994 for both men and women.

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
Phone: (800) 843-5678
website www.missingkids.com
A clearinghouse for information on child abduction and exploitation.

National Coalition for Family Justice
Phone: (914) 591-5753
Fax: (914) 591-6981
Website www.ncfj.org
e-mail: cfjmailbox@aol.com
Provides information, counseling, and referrals for people involved in divorce or domestic-relations matters.

National Family Resiliency Center
2000 Century Plaza, Suite 121, Columbia, MD 21044
Phone: (410) 740-9553
Fax: (301) 596-1677
Website: www.divorceABC.com
e-mail: info@divorceabc.com
The National Family Resiliency Center offers pre-marital, reconciliation, mediation, separation, and divorce counseling and educational programs for adults. Children's programs include individual and group counseling, KidShare and TeenShare educational programs. Publications are available on the website for children, parents, judges, attorneys, mediators, and educators. Professional training offered nationally for judges, attorneys, mediators, and mental health professionals.

National Organization for Women
Phone: (202) 628-8669
Website: www.now.org
e-mail: now@now.org
Works to promote equal rights for women; organizes crowds for protests against violence and other issues; advocates for the survivors of rape, sexual harassment, and sex discrimination; champions important new laws. Includes chapters by state across the U.S.

National Sleep Foundation
729 Fifteenth St. NW, Fourth Floor, Washington, D.C. 20005
Phone: (202) 347-3471
Website: www.sleepfoundation.org
Call or check out their website to learn more about how to get a good night's sleep.

North American Conference of Separated and Divorced Catholics
Phone: (541) 893-6089 Fax: (541) 893-6089 *51
Contact: Krista Dennis
Website: www.nacsdc.org
e-mail: krista@nacsdc.org
Addresses the religious, emotional, financial, and parenting issues relating to separation, divorce, and remarriage.

PAIRS
(Practical Application of Intimate Relationship Skills)
Phone: (888) PAIRS-4U
Fax: (703) 476-6650
Website: www.pairs.com
e-mail: ePAIRS@aol.com
Provides a comprehensive system to enhance self-knowledge and to develop the ability to sustain healthy and happy relationships. Offers courses and workshops across North America.

Parents Without Partners
Website: www.parentswithoutpartners.org
Parents without Partners is an international, non-profit, educational organization of custodial and non-custodial parents: widowed, divorced, separated, or never married. Its objective is to provide understanding and mutual support to single parents, and help them deal with the problems of raising children in a one-parent household.

Rainbows
Phone: (800) 266-3206
Website: www.rainbows.org
e-mail: info@rainbows.org
Peer support groups for children, adolescents, and adults who a divorce, death, or other painful transition in the family.

Retrouvaille International
Phone: (800) 470-2230
Website: www.retrouvaille.org
A program for couples in troubled marriages, separated individuals, and those who want their previous marriage to work again.

Stepfamily Foundation
333 West End Avenue New York, NY 10023
Phone: (212) 877-3244 or (800) SKY STEP
Fax: (212) 362-7030
Contact: Jeannette Lofas, Ph.D., CSW
Website: www.stepfamily.org
e-mail: staff@stepfamily.org
Counseling experts in divorce and remarriage with children for over 25 years. Offers telephone counseling worldwide.

Vanished Children's Alliance
Phone: (800) VANISHED or (408) 296-1113
Website: www.vca.org
e-mail: info@vca.org
A non-profit organization dedicated to the location, recovery, and reunification of missing children, the VCA provides assistance in custody orders, parental (family) abductions, and runaway cases. Provides technical and location assistance to families whose children have been abducted by one parent.

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International

Beginning Experience
Phone: (313) 965-5110
Provides support and programs for separated, widowed, and divorced people.

Child Quest International
Phone: (408) 287-4673
24-Hour Sighting Line: (888) 818-4673
An organization devoted to the protection and recovery of missing children.

The Grief Recovery Institute
Grief Recovery Outreach Program. A 12 week program, facilitated by Grief Recovery specialists, Certified by The Grief Recovery Institute. Helps willing participants complete the pain caused by death, divorce and other losses. Some programs are fee based, some are sponsored. Call 800-334-7606 for information and referrals. All States -- Many Communities.

National Sleep Foundation
729 Fifteenth St. NW, Fourth Floor
Washington, D.C. 20005
Phone: (888) NSF-SLEEP website www.sleepfoundation.org
Call or check out their website for information about local NSAW activities, or to learn more about how to get a good night's sleep.

North American Conference of Separated and Divorced Catholics
Phone: (541) 893-6089
Addresses the religious, emotional, financial, and parenting issues relating to separation, divorce, and remarriage.

Parents Without Partners
Website: www.parentswithoutpartners.org
Parents without Partners (PWP) is an international, non-profit, educational organization of custodial and non-custodial parents: widowed, divorced, separated, or never married. Its objective is to provide understanding and mutual support to single parents, and help them deal with the problems of raising children in a one-parent household.

Retrouvaille International
Phone: (800) 470-2230
A program for couples in troubled marriages, separated individuals, and those who want their previous marriage to work again.

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