The Role of the Collaborative Divorce™ Child Specialist: 

The child specialist is a neutral third party whose job is to understand the situation from the perspective of the child(ren) and to advocate for their interests.  The child specialist maintains this focus throughout the divorce process and is considered the child coach throughout the child’s life, if the need arises.  The child specialist helps to make sure that concerns of the child(ren) are not overshadowed by other considerations.  The child specialist provides an opportunity for the child(ren) to ask questions and to identify problems or worries.  The child specialist then provides information and suggestions to parents and to the team in the development of the parenting plan.   

The Collaborative Divorce™ Child Specialist will work with the children and the parents to: 

1.      Provide each child with an opportunity to voice his/her concerns regarding the divorce. 

2.      Provide the parents with information and guidance to help their children through this process. 

3.   Give information to the parties and the Collaborative team that will help the parties in developing an effective co-parenting plan for their children.

Child Specialist

SHANNON HARTMAN WILSON, LMFT 

Child Specialist 

Balanced Choices 

126 Main Street Suite 2B 

P. O. Box 1963 

Davidson, NC 28036 

704-655-2827 

www.balancedchoices.net 

Shannon Hartman Wilson received her Masters degree in Clinical Psychology with a double specialization in Child and Adolescent Therapy and Sport Psychology from John F. Kennedy University in Orinda, California.  She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor, and Certified Coach Practioner™.  She has a private practice in Davidson, NC and Sherrills Ford, NC and offers counseling and life coaching services.    Shannon has over eight years experience working with individuals, children, adolescents and families dealing with a variety of issues such as depression, anxiety, ADHD/ADD, behavioral disorders and many other issues including issues related to the parent child relationship.  Shannon believes that life is about choices and part of her job as a therapist is to guide people and help them to see the balanced, healthy choices that they can make in their own lives.   

Child Specialist

Landa M. Duszybski MSW, LCSW

126 Main Street Suite 2B

P. O. Box 1963

Davidson, NC 28036

704-655-2827

www.balancedchoices.net

Landa M. Duszynski received her master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Iowa in 1984 and has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 1997. She is a Certified Neuro-Linguistic Therapist (Family Institute, Kansas City, MO), practicing as a psychotherapist and hypnotherapist. Landa works with individuals, couples, and groups and specializes in Parental Issues, Personal Growth, Chronic Illnesses, Pain Control, Stress Related Illnesses, Eating Disorders, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).    Landa is a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the Association of Heart Centered Therapies, the Lake Norman Collaborative Divorce Group, and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP).