As Collaborative professionals, most of us didn’t choose this work by accident. We were drawn to a process rooted in respect, transparency, client empowerment, and keeping families out of court whenever possible. These values sit at the heart of the Collaborative model, but as the year ends it’s worth pausing to ask an important question.

Did the work you did this year truly align with your core Collaborative values?

When Your Practice Reflected Your Values

If you found yourself meaningfully engaged in Collaborative or other out-of-court processes this year, take a moment to reflect on what contributed to that success.

• What types of cases felt most aligned with your values?
• How did clients find you—and what messaging resonated with them?
• Which relationships or referral sources supported your Collaborative work?
• What felt energizing, fulfilling, or impactful about the work you did?

Success leaves clues. Understanding what worked allows you to intentionally build on it. Whether it was clearer messaging, stronger connections with like-minded professionals, or increased confidence in explaining the Collaborative process, these are strengths you can carry forward into the coming year.

When Your Year Looked Different Than You Hoped

If your year included less Collaborative or out-of-court work than you intended, you’re not alone, and this isn’t a failure. It’s an opportunity for insight.

Ask yourself, what got in the way of more Collaborative cases? Were clients unclear about the options available to them? Did fear, time constraints, or uncertainty about marketing hold you back? Did you default to familiar patterns instead of advocating for the process you believe in?

Often, the barriers aren’t about commitment to Collaborative values, they’re about visibility, clarity, or confidence in communicating those values to the right audience.

Looking Ahead: What Can Change Next Year?

Reflection becomes powerful when it leads to intention. As you look toward the coming year, consider how can you more clearly articulate why Collaborative matters to you? Where can your messaging better reflect your values? What support, education, or accountability would help you stay aligned? How can you be more proactive in guiding clients toward out-of-court solutions?

Small shifts, refining your language, strengthening professional relationships, or revisiting how you present your services can create meaningful change.

Collaborative practice isn’t just about the cases you handle, it’s about how you show up, what you prioritize, and whether your professional choices reflect the values that brought you here in the first place.

As the year ends, give yourself the space to reflect honestly. Celebrate what worked. Learn from what didn’t. Move into the new year with intention, clarity, and renewed alignment with the work you believe in. When your practice aligns with your values, everyone, especially the families you serve, benefits.