I provide personalized divorce coaching to help you navigate this challenging transition with dignity and confidence.
Divorce coaching is a structured, goal-oriented process that helps you navigate thepractical and emotional challenges of divorce — so you can make better decisions,reduce costly mistakes, and come out the other side with your dignity and yourfuture intact.
We start with a no-pressure conversation. You tell me where you are in the process — contemplating, in the middle of it, or trying to find your footing after. I listen, I ask questions, and I share honestly whether coaching is the right fit for you. If it’s not, I’ll tell you that too.
This is where we map your situation. We identify your most urgent priorities — whether that’s
understanding your financial picture, preparing for an attorney consultation, figuring out what to say to
your kids, or processing a difficult decision. You leave with a clear action plan.
Most clients work with me in a structured package. Sessions are typically 60 minutes, held weekly or
biweekly. Between sessions, you have access to resources, worksheets, and check-ins as needed. We
adjust as your situation evolves — because divorce rarely goes exactly as planned.
Before the divorce process begins:
• Deciding whether divorce is truly the right step for you
• Understanding what the Illinois divorce process actually looks like (timelines, steps, costs)
• Knowing what questions to ask before you hire an attorney
• Protecting yourself financially before you file
• Preparing for every attorney meeting so you’re not burning billable hours on questions I can
answer
• Organizing financial documents (affidavits, tax returns, account statements, debt lists)
• Building a parenting plan that centers your children
• Communicating with your spouse without escalating conflict
• Understanding mediation and what to expect
• Making clear-headed decisions when emotions are running high
After the divorce:
• Rebuilding your financial identity (new accounts, updated beneficiaries, credit)
• Co-parenting communication as you settle into the new normal
• Rediscovering who you are — and who you want to become
Before the divorce process begins:
• Deciding whether divorce is truly the right step for you
• Understanding what the Illinois divorce process actually looks like (timelines, steps, costs)
• Knowing what questions to ask before you hire an attorney
• Protecting yourself financially before you file
During the divorce:
• Preparing for every attorney meeting so you’re not burning billable hours on questions I can
answer
• Organizing financial documents (affidavits, tax returns, account statements, debt lists)
• Building a parenting plan that centers your children
• Communicating with your spouse without escalating conflict
• Understanding mediation and what to expect
• Making clear-headed decisions when emotions are running high
After the divorce:
• Rebuilding your financial identity (new accounts, updated beneficiaries, credit)
• Co-parenting communication as you settle into the new normal
• Rediscovering who you are — and who you want to become
Working with a Divorce Coach in Illinois
Illinois divorce law has its own timelines, requirements, and norms — and if you’re in Central Illinois, I
know the local landscape well.
Illinois is a no-fault divorce state, which means you don’t need to prove wrongdoing to file. The only
ground for divorce is “irreconcilable differences.” But no-fault doesn’t mean simple — Illinois still
requires a formal financial disclosure (the Financial Affidavit), a parenting plan if you have children, and
a marital settlement agreement before a judge will finalize anything.
Here’s what that means for you practically:
• The Financial Affidavit is one of the most critical (and most stressful) documents in an Illinois
divorce. It requires a detailed accounting of every asset, debt, expense, and income source. I help
clients organize and prepare this document so their attorney can file it accurately — and quickly.
• The 90-day waiting period — Illinois requires a minimum of 90 days from service of process
before a divorce can be finalized (in most cases). That window is exactly where coaching makes the
biggest difference.
• Parenting plans — Illinois courts now require a formal Parenting Plan or Allocation Judgment for
all divorces involving children. I help you think through what your children need and how to
approach a co-parenting structure your spouse can actually agree to.
I serve clients across Central Illinois — Morton, Peoria, Bloomington-Normal, Springfield — as well as
clients nationwide via Zoom.
You might be a good fit for coaching if:
• You’re considering divorce but aren’t sure you’re making the right decision
• You’ve decided to divorce but feel overwhelmed by where to start
• You’re in the middle of the process and things aren’t going the way you hoped
• You have an attorney but feel like you’re not getting enough time or attention
• You’re spending too much of your attorney’s time on questions that aren’t legal
• You have kids and are terrified of getting the co-parenting piece wrong
• You’re the financially dependent spouse and you’re scared about money
• You’re dealing with a high-conflict spouse and you don’t know how to manage it
• You want to get through this without it destroying you
You don’t need to have everything figured out before you call. That’s exactly what we figure out
together
I’m Katie VandenBerg. I’m a CDC Certified Divorce Coach® — one of fewer than 1,000 coaches in
the world with this credential — and I’ve been working with clients in Central Illinois and across the
country since I launched Focused Forward
Key takeaways: There is no perfect time to start your divorce journey waiting for ideal conditions prolong pain for everyone involved taking
09/29/2025
The most dangerous phrase in any major life transition? “How hard it can be?”
A divorce coach provides strategic, practical, and emotional support throughout the divorce process.
She helps you prepare for attorney meetings, organize financial documents, build a parenting plan,
communicate with your spouse, and make clear-headed decisions under pressure. Unlike a therapist,
she’s forward-focused. Unlike an attorney, she’s accessible, affordable, and not billing you for legal
strategy.
Therapy focuses on emotional healing — processing grief, trauma, anxiety, and past experiences.
Divorce coaching focuses on strategy and action — what decisions need to be made, how to prepare
for the legal process, how to communicate effectively, and how to protect your future. Many clients
work with both at the same time. They serve different purposes.
Yes. A divorce coach is not a legal professional and does not give legal advice. You still need a
licensed Illinois family law attorney to represent you in court proceedings and draft your legal
documents. What a coach does is help you use your attorney’s time more efficiently — so you’re
spending less and getting more done per session.
Absolutely. I work with clients nationwide via Zoom. The Illinois-specific content (Financial Affidavit,
90-day waiting period, parenting plans) applies if you’re in Illinois, but the coaching itself —
decision-making, attorney prep, communication, co-parenting — is relevant regardless of your state
You don’t have to figure this out alone. Whether you’re just starting to think about divorce, in the middle
of a messy process, or trying to rebuild on the other side — there’s support available that actually fits
what you’re going through.
A 30-minute discovery call costs you nothing. Let’s talk about where you are and what would actually
help.
■ [Book Your Free Discovery Call]
katie@katievandenberg.com | (309) 840-0881
Morton, IL — serving Central Illinois and nationwide via Zoom
+”What a lifeline!! Katie helped me through the intense rollercoaster of one of the most complicated divorce processes ever. She has an incredible gift of staying relational and calm AND is able to be focused and factual. This is a rare find in a human! Her ability to help me stay focused on next steps despite the chaotic events of the divorce kept me grounded. She helped me fill out complicated court paperwork one step at a time. She helped me talk through and formulate my questions before I called my lawyer so I could be articulate and precise. Before I secured Katie’s services, I remember wondering if I could afford a divorce coach. The truth is, I couldn’t afford to go through my divorce alone without Katie. Highly recommended.- Dee B, Chillicothe, Illinois