Saturday, October 24th, 2026 7:00 PM EDT -9:00 PM EDT Carrie Mead, LCPC
Yahoo!
Description
This seminar explores the unique challenges facing modern marriages and the evolving landscape of divorce. As the majority of American families are now dual-income households, couples increasingly struggle with the division of household labor, parenting responsibilities, and maintaining emotional connection. These stressors have had a significant impact on relationship dynamics and present new challenges for mental health clinicians.
This seminar will help clinicians understand why women are initiating divorce at historically high levels and will explore the most common fears and barriers clients face when contemplating divorce. A clinical framework for supporting individuals and couples throughout the divorce process will also be presented.
Finally, we address special clinical considerations for particular subgroups, including gray divorce, intimate partner abuse, immigrant families, and same-sex relationships.
Participants will leave with evidence-informed strategies to enhance assessment and case conceptualization, and therapeutic interventions for clients navigating relationship distress and divorce.
About the Presenter:
As a licensed clinical professional counselor in Maryland and South Carolina, Carrie Mead, LCPC, specializes in helping adults heal from trauma, anxiety, and complex life transitions. She offers both individual therapy and specialized group counseling for women navigating the challenges of divorce. By blending empathy and expert clinical knowledge with evidence-based techniques like CBT and mindfulness, Carrie guides her clients toward clarity and empowerment. Ultimately, she honors each client as the expert in their own life, providing the tools needed to facilitate deep and lasting growth.
Learning Objectives:
- Conceptualize how to support clients through divorce contemplation
- Describe why women are initiating divorce at historically high levels
- List the most common obstacles to divorce and identify special considerations for marginalized clients
- Conceptualize how to support clients through divorce contemplation
Agenda:
Divorce Contemplation, by Carrie Mead, LCPC
1) Introduction by Carrie Mead, LCPC (Time: 2- 3mins)
2) Review of Divorce and Marriage Statistics (Time: 5 mins)
a. Breakdown of facts/ statistics of marriage- who is getting married; at what age; and why
b. Breakdown of facts/ statistics of divorce- who is getting divorced; at what age; and why
i. Discussion points and facts about the period of ‘divorce contemplation’ that people go through before discussing divorce with their spouse
3) Examine and Analyze Divorce Myths (Time: 10 mins)
a. Review of the 6 most common myths about divorce; explain where and how they came to be
b. Debunk, clarify, and reframe these myths to match reality based on the research and evidence
c. Share antidotes / stories from clients and, if live seminar, allow time for Q& A
4) Examine Divorce Predictors and Review principles of Gottman’s “Conflict Math” (Time: 10 mins)
a. Analyze Gottman’s 4 Horseman of the Apocalypse
i. Review each ‘horseman’ and alternatives for better communication and improved emotional intimacy
b. Discuss Anger, Conflict, and Fair-fighting
i. Review conflict styles and how the impact a couple’s relationship
1. Help clinicians identify their client’s conflict style
ii. Examine Gottman’s “conflict math ratio” and teach ways to infuse fights with positive interactions
iii. Review and discuss ways to notice emotional flooding quickly and learn how to apply strategies to reduce flooding
iv. Explore why anger is an okay emotional stance and why many clients have difficulty with this emotion
5) Discuss and Review Historical Reasons for Divorce (Time: 5 mins)
a. Brief overview of American history regarding women’s employment laws, voting rights, financial and educational barriers
b. Explore the ‘hard’ reasons for Divorce or the 4 A’s of divorce
i. Abandonment, Addiction, Affairs, and Abuse
6) Discuss and Review Modern Reasons for Divorce (Time: 10 mins)
a. Analyze recent divorce trends and data
b. Identify the 8 more cited ‘soft’ reasons for divorce
c. Explore how these soft reasons have emerged and are showing up for couples in the therapy session
7) Explore Divorce Options and Styles (Time: 5 mins)
a. Provide Psychoeducation on divorce styles
i. Court/ litigation
ii. Mediation
iii. Family Law
iv. Collaborative Divorce
v. Divorce Coaches
8) Discuss Challenges and Barriers to Divorce for the General Population (Time: 10 mins)
a. Identify and discuss the 4 most common challenges and barriers to seeking divorce
i. Review these challenges in light of divorce myths, previously discussed
ii. Teach practical skills to clinicians so they can identify and address these barriers in session
9) Review Special Considerations and Circumstances for Marginalized populations (Time: 10 mins)
a. Examine 5 of the most common marginalized groups of people who may have unique barriers and challenges to seeking a divorce
b. Identify ways for clinicians to validate and education these clients on their specific issues and challenges
10) Explore and Apply 8 Strategies for clinicians to use when working with clients who are contemplating divorce. (Time: 15 mins)
a. Teach practical strategies and areas of clinical work for clinicians to in their therapy sessions
11) Question/ Answers- either live or in chat (Time: 10 mins)
This presentation is open to:
- Behavior Analysts
- Social Workers
- Professional Counselors
- Therapists
- Psychologists
- Licensed Mental Health Practitioners
- Medical Doctors and Other Health Professionals
- Other professionals interacting with populations engaged in mental health based services
This online class is offered at an intermediate level, and is beneficial for an intermediate level clinician:
- New practitioners who wish to gain enhanced insight surrounding the topic
- Experienced practitioners who seek to increase and expand fundamental knowledge surrounding the subject matter
- Advanced practitioners seeking to review concepts and reinforce practice skills and/or access additional consultation
- Managers seeking to broaden micro and/or macro perspectives
Additional information
- Refunds: Registrants who are unable to attend a UnlimitiedCEs.com seminar or live webinars may ask for, and will receive, a credit or refund (your choice). Refund requests will be processed within 3 business days. When an attendee knows in advance that they are unable to attend we ask that they inform UnlimitiedCEs.com ahead of time by emailing [email protected] or by calling or texting 607-249-4585 this allows us to free up the spot in the training in the event that a training is at or near capacity.
- Disability Access: If you require ADA accommodations, please contact our office 30 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification.
- Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often, and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly.
- The grievance policy for trainings provided by UnlimitiedCEs.com is available here
- Satisfactory Completion: Certificates are available after satisfactory course completion in your account or by clicking here
- Participants will receive their certificate electronically upon completion of the webinar and course evaluation form.
- There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.
- System Requirements: Any device (such as a computer, tablet, or phone), Dual-Core 2 GHz or higher processor, and at least 4 GB of RAM capable of running a Zoom session, along with a stable internet connection.
- Although early registration is recommended for this class in order to ensure the best experience, attendees may register and join until the start of the program