Minimizing the impact of divorce on you and your children by reducing cost, conflict, and chaos.

Chicago divorce support

Serving Chicago, the North Shore, and beyond.

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Hi, I’m Melissa, a certified divorce coach based on Chicago’s North Shore and serving client’s globally. I help parents navigating divorce achieve better outcomes by turning chaos into clarity, conflict into calm, and uncertainty into strategy.

You are in the right place if:

  • You are overwhelmed by the legal and procedural steps of divorce 

  • You are worried that conflict with your spouse is hurting your children

  • You can’t afford the cost of a lengthy, drawn out divorce

  • You want to make thoughtful and strategic decisions

As a divorce coach, I combine the principles of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) within a coaching framework to act as your thinking partner and educator before, during, and after your divorce.

  • Clearly defined priorities and goals

  • Effective communication and clear boundaries

  • Understanding conflict patterns

  • Flexible thinking and strategic negotiation

  • Remaining sensitive to your children’s development and needs

Together we focus on:

Everyone wins when a divorce coach is engaged early in the process. Your lawyer gets a well-prepared and credible client; your children get the parent they deserve; and you get peace of mind and fewer legals bills.

My approach

I borrow skills from my clinical and coaching background to help clients feel supported, informed, and empowered. While I am warm and empathetic, I am also solution-focused and practical. Now is not the time for processing the past - that’s your therapist’s job. My role is to bridge an important gap, because so much of the logistic and emotional readiness for divorce can occur outside of your attorney’s billable time. This is the time to gain the necessary tools to communicate effectively, make decisions with confidence, and plan thoughtfully.

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Services

I offer private divorce and co-parent coaching options. Choose from three different packages, serving clients in Chicago, the North Shore and beyond.

Divorce Coaching
Co-parent Coaching
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  • "You won’t regret it! It really is invaluable to have someone walk next to you that has been there before. Divorce and co-parenting are whole different worlds and it is great to get guidance from someone living the same reality as you. The questions and situations that come up during divorce are unique to someone that has been through it before. You aren’t going to get the same support from friends and family."

    — ELLEN S.

  • "I am very pleased with the services provided by Melissa Kalil Coaching. Melissa asks very thought provoking questions to help me and also provides tools and practice exercises to help me navigate through everyday life scenarios. I would recommend Melissa to anyone!"

    — ANDY K.

  • "Melissa’s approach was so helpful for me. She allowed a teeny bit of complaining, and was compassionate but also firm. She really cut through the fog to help me see the reality of my failed marriage and get over my insane longing for something that didn’t ever even exist... Melissa was crucial in regaining myself and looking toward a rich future instead of an empty past."

    — CARRIE C.

Read More Testimonials
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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Divorce coaching is suitable for any stage of the process. Once you have decided to pursue a separation or divorce, a divorce coach should be the first professional on your team. Ideally, divorce coaching is an early intervention process helping you get started on the right track.

  • Yes, I believe men and women can benefit equally from divorce coaching.

  • Coaching is designed to complement, not compete with therapy. Divorce coaches do not diagnose or treat mental health conditions, but rather help you get from point A to point B in your divorce. Therapists are mental health professionals that work within a clinical framework, while divorce coaches are professional that operate from an alternate dispute resolution perspective.

  • Coaching is designed to complement, not compete with legal strategy. A coach can help you get organized, provide education and practical tips, but a coach cannot provide legal strategy or advice. Divorce coaches help you prepare proposals, but cannot draft legal documents or review evidence.

  • I am based in Chicago and the North Shore; however, sessions are conducted virtually and I see clients across the US.