Divorce can feel like the end of the road, but for many, it’s also the start of something new. The challenge? Getting through the chaos and finding that fresh start.
That’s where divorce coaches step in – guiding people through one of the toughest chapters of their lives with empathy, clarity, and a solid plan for what’s next.
If you’ve ever thought, “I could help people through this,” then becoming a divorce coach might be your calling.
This article will walk you through everything you need to know: what divorce coaches actually do, how to become a divorce coach, and how to start your own coaching business.
So, if you’re ready to use your skills and experiences to create something meaningful, this guide is here to help you get started.
Table of Contents
What is Divorce Coaching?
Picture this: someone wakes up one morning, staring down the daunting reality of life post-divorce. They’re overwhelmed, unsure of what to do next, and drowning in legal paperwork and emotional baggage.
That’s where a divorce coach steps in – not to fix the past, but to help them take back control and start building a future they actually want to live. It’s about helping people navigate through the emotional chaos with a mix of empathy, strategy, and straight talk.
Who can benefit from divorce coaching?
The short answer? Just about anyone going through a divorce.
But the more personal answer comes down to the niche you carve out as a divorce coach. Think about:
- Co-parents struggling to juggle schedules and emotions – because splitting weekends is harder than it sounds.
- Professionals worried about finances – figuring out how to keep the house or navigate single-income living.
- People rediscovering themselves – maybe for the first time in years.
What is a Divorce Coach?
Divorce coaching isn’t there to replace legal cases or therapy. As a divorce coach, you’re there to guide people through one of the most emotionally and logistically overwhelming chapters of their lives.
If you’ve been through a divorce or helped someone close to you through theirs, you probably know how much of a difference it makes to have someone in your corner – someone who just gets it and can help steer the ship when emotions are running at an all-time high.
Key qualities of an effective divorce coach
When people are going through a divorce, they’re often overwhelmed. As a divorce coach, you’re the calm in their storm. That means you’ll need a few qualities to truly help your clients:
- Empathy: Divorce is tricky, and people need to feel safe sharing their fears, frustrations, and regrets. They’re not looking for someone to sugarcoat things or judge their choices. They need someone who listens, understands, and offers honest support and guidance.
- Clear communication: They’re going to need you to help them make tough decisions and navigate a lot of moving parts. Your ability to break things down into simple, actionable steps is critical.
- Adaptability: No two divorces are the same. One client might need help setting boundaries with an ex, while another needs to rebuild their confidence. Your approach has to shift based on their needs.
- Organization: From co-parenting schedules to financial planning, divorces are full of logistics. As a coach, you help clients stay focused and on top of the details without feeling overwhelmed.
How to Become a Divorce Coach
If you’re ready to help people rebuild their lives – and create a thriving divorce coaching practice while you’re at it – there’s never been a better time to get started.
Step 1: Understand the industry
Because divorce is such a delicate case, it’s essential to grasp the nuances of divorce coaching – emotionally, legally, and professionally. Knowing the challenges and opportunities will set you apart as a divorce coach.
Action steps:
- Research divorce trends: Stay informed about the latest trends, statistics, and challenges individuals face going through divorce.
- Learn from experts: Study divorce coaches, attorneys, and therapists who specialize in this field. Engage with resources from professionals like Amy Baker, who focuses on client empowerment through strategic decision-making and compassionate support.
- Attend workshops and webinars: Participate in industry events to gain insights and network with other professionals.
- Read relevant books and case studies: Deepen your understanding through books, academic studies, and real-life case studies on divorce.
Step 2: Identify your niche
Your niche will define how you stand out. Whether you focus on supporting single parents or guiding couples through amicable separations, narrowing your expertise makes you the go-to coach.
Action steps:
- Define your ideal client: Who do you want to serve? Individuals dealing with complex custody issues, co-parenting challenges, or emotional healing?
- Research pain points: Identify common struggles clients face in your chosen niche and think about how you can offer solutions.
Step 3: Develop your skills
As a divorce coach, building strong skills in emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, and legal understanding is crucial. These skills will help you guide your clients through their emotional and practical challenges.
Action steps:
- Expand your emotional intelligence: Practice active listening, empathy, and effective communication through courses or coaching.
- Learn conflict resolution techniques: Enroll in programs focused on conflict management, like High Conflict Divorce Coach Certification Program.
- Understand divorce laws: Take courses or certifications from institutions like The International Coach Federation (ICF) to enhance your legal knowledge.
Step 4: Get certified
While certification isn’t mandatory, it does provide a structured approach to mastering the necessary skills. However, depending on your goals, you may opt for foundational divorce coach training or dive deeper into a specialized coach certificate course.
Action steps:
- Research different divorce coach certification programs, like the Certified Divorce Coach® (CDC) or the Divorce Coaches Academy Certification.
- Network with coaches who have chosen alternative paths for insights.
Step 5: Create your coaching framework
Your coaching framework is the backbone of your services. It should provide clear steps to guide clients through the process, from initial assessment to actionable outcomes.
Action steps:
- Define your coaching framework: Outline the key stages your clients will go through, such as emotional healing, financial planning, co-parenting strategies, and legal considerations.
- Tailor your offers: Create different coaching packages based on client needs – such as one-on-one sessions, group coaching, or specialized workshops for specific areas like co-parenting or divorce mediation.
- Incorporate tools and resources: Use worksheets, templates, and educational materials to support clients throughout their journey.
- Focus on results: Emphasize the outcomes clients can expect when they work with you, such as improved communication, reduced conflict, and a clear path forward post-divorce.
Step 6: Market your services
A strong online presence is essential for attracting clients and establishing credibility as a divorce coach. Your website and social media platforms should reflect your expertise, empathy, and professionalism.
Action steps:
- Create a professional website: Design a clean, user-friendly website that showcases your services, client testimonials, and resources. Include a clear call to action for potential clients to contact you.
- Optimize for SEO: Use targeted keywords related to divorce coaching to improve your visibility on search engines like Google.
- Get visible online: Interact with your target audience on platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and X. Share content that educates, inspires, and supports those going through divorce.
Step 7: Start coaching
By delivering results and gathering testimonials, you’ll build a strong reputation as a compassionate, results-driven divorce coach.
Action steps:
- Offer sessions: Offer initial coaching sessions at a reduced rate to build experience and receive early feedback.
- Track progress: Set clear goals with your clients at the start of each session, such as improving communication in high-conflict divorces or helping co-parents create parenting plans.
- Document success stories: Record your clients’ wins – a successful divorce process, improved emotional well-being, or successful co-parenting arrangements – and ask for testimonials after significant milestones.
- Create a case study: Develop a comprehensive case study showcasing before-and-after results for clients in similar situations.
What Does a Divorce Coach Do?
When you step into divorce coaching, you’re signing up to guide people through one of the toughest chapters in their lives. Your clients will lean on you for clarity, emotional support, and practical advice not just to survive divorce – but to help them rebuild their lives. Here are the real-life struggles you’ll help them tackle.
Stress management
Picture this: your client’s world is upside down. They’re drowning in grief, anger, or fear, and they don’t know where to start. As their divorce coach, you’ll help them find the calm in the chaos – whether that’s through breathing exercises, journaling, or even helping them create a daily routine that keeps them grounded.
Communication breakdowns
Divorce can turn even simple conversations into battlegrounds, especially when co-parenting is involved. Your role? Teach them strategies to communicate clearly, set healthy boundaries, and focus on solutions that benefit everyone – especially their kids.
Co-parenting challenges
Imagine helping a single mom navigate custody schedules or mediate a disagreement over parenting styles. You’ll become the steady hand guiding her to prioritize her children’s needs while maintaining her sanity.
Loss of identity
Many clients will feel like they’ve lost themselves in their marriage. You’ll help them rediscover their strengths, passions, and what makes them tick so they can confidently step into the next chapter of their lives.
Financial fear
Money is a huge stressor during and after divorce. While you’re not a financial planner, you’ll help clients face their finances head-on, set achievable goals, and take their first steps toward independence.
Fear of starting over
Starting over is terrifying. Whether it’s re-entering the dating world, finding a new career, or just learning how to live alone, your clients will need encouragement and practical strategies to face the unknown. That’s where you come in – helping them reframe their fears and see the possibilities ahead.
What Do You Need to Be a Divorce Coach?
Your clients are navigating emotions, decisions, and uncertainty all at once. That means you’ll need to bring the necessary skills to the table:
- Empathy: Divorce is emotional. Being able to listen without judgment and truly understand your client’s perspective is massive. Clients want to feel heard and supported, not fixed or rushed.
- Strong communication skills: You’ll teach clients how to express their needs, set boundaries, and communicate with exes, co-parents, or even their kids. You’ll model and coach them on clear, calm, and constructive communication.
- Goal-setting: Many clients come to you feeling lost. Your job? Help them see the possibilities ahead. Whether they’re stuck on co-parenting issues, child support, or figuring out what’s next, you’ll guide them to create actionable steps that move them forward.
- Emotional resilience: Let’s face it – some sessions will be heavy and fully loaded. You need to stay grounded and composed while helping clients process their emotions without taking on their baggage yourself.
- Organization and planning: Divorce involves a lot of moving pieces. From custody schedules to financial planning, you’ll help clients stay organized and tackle what’s ahead one step at a time.
Tools and resources every divorce coach should have
Think of your coaching business as a soccer game – you wouldn’t step onto the field without your gear. The same goes for divorce coaching. Here are the tools that’ll help you build a solid business and serve your clients well:
- Structured coaching framework: Whether it’s guiding clients through emotional recovery or practical steps like budgeting and legal prep, having a clear process helps you deliver consistent value.
- Technology that works for you: Platforms like Zoom or Google Meet are a must for online sessions. Tools like Calendly can handle scheduling, and a good CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system like ClickUp (we use this at EHQ) or Monday keeps your client info in one place.
- Legal and financial resources: You’re not a lawyer or financial planner, but having a list of go-to professionals and resources to share with your clients adds real value. Partnering with mediators, financial advisors, or therapists can make a world of difference.
- Marketing materials: Building an online presence is non-negotiable. From a professional website to social media accounts, you need to show potential clients who you are and how you can help them.
Do You Need a Divorce Coach Certification?
There are no strict legal requirements saying you need to get certified to become a divorce coach. But let me ask you this: when you’re starting a business in a competitive field, wouldn’t you want every edge possible?
Here’s where certification can help:
- Skill-building: Certifications provide structured training on how to coach effectively, handle emotional situations, and guide your clients through the tough stuff.
- Confidence: Knowing experts have trained you can help you feel more prepared when working with clients.
- Clarity on your niche: Many programs teach you how to define your audience and develop a coaching framework, which is critical for standing out online.
How Much Do Divorce Coaches Make?
According to recent data, the average salary for a divorce coach per year in the U.S. is $90,501. Hourly rates can vary widely depending on experience and expertise, ranging from $43.51 to $72.14 per hour.
Keep in mind, though, that these averages reflect a mix of part-time and full-time coaches. If you’re aiming to go all-in with your business, your earning potential could be even higher – especially if you focus on high-ticket coaching offers and leverage strategies like virtual summits.
Factors that affect divorce coach earnings
Your income as a divorce coach isn’t set in stone. It’s influenced by a few key factors:
- Niche: Are you working with high-net-worth individuals? Single parents? Specializing can help you charge higher rates because you’re addressing specific challenges.
- Experience: If you’ve been through a divorce or worked with people going through one, that personal insight can be priceless – and clients are willing to pay for it.
- Services: Do you offer group programs, one-on-one coaching, or digital products? Diversifying your offers can create more income streams.
How to Start a Divorce Coaching Business
Now, it’s time to get your business up and running. The key is to start small and build as you go.
- Set financial goals: Know what you want to earn and work backward to determine how many clients or programs you need to reach that number.
- Plan your schedule: Decide how much time you’ll dedicate to coaching each week and factor in time for marketing and business growth.
- Register your business: Depending on where you live, you might need to register your coaching practice or get certified.
- Develop contracts and policies: Protect yourself and your clients by having clear agreements for working together.
- Network with professionals: Build relationships with lawyers, therapists, and other professionals in the divorce space. They can become great referral partners.
Discover Your Purpose
If this all sounds like the kind of work you’re passionate about, the next step on how to become a divorce coach is figuring out how to create consistent income and attract clients who truly value your work.
Building a successful divorce coaching business is 100% doable – even if you’re starting from scratch. It just takes a clear plan, the right guidance, and the drive to make it happen.
That’s where we come in. With our 7-step system, you’ll learn how to:
✅ Develop a signature offer for your coaching business
✅ Attract leads who are ready to invest in your expertise
✅ Automate and scale your business for predictable income freedom
Hundreds of coaches have used this system to hit six figures and beyond – like Michael Morgan, who made $40,000 in his first month.
Ready to become our next success story? Get your 7-Step Blueprint for a Million-Dollar Coaching Business here.