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No doubt, divorce is complicated. When children are involved, the challenges may feel even more overwhelming. Whether you have completed the divorce process or are just beginning to navigate co-parenting, having access to the right resources not only eases tensions but facilitates the process for the entire family unit. In addition to legal guidance, mental health, financial, and co-parenting resources are essential: knowing where and how to access them is half the battle. ANR Law aims to point in the right direction and provide support for divorcing couples in Wilmington.
Evolution Wellness specializes in divorce counseling and has three convenient locations across Wilmington. "We specialize in counseling for relationships, including divorce counseling. Our professional counselors are trained to listen with empathy and expertise and offer guidance to facilitate your processing of pain and personal growth." Evolution Wellness offers a variety of family therapy services, including marriage counseling and couples therapy. For a comprehensive list of their services and contact information, please visit their website at this link.
Additionally, several mental health professionals in the Wilmington area work with children and families navigating divorce. Shelley Chambers at Potentials conducts co-parenting sessions with over 25 years of experience. Renee Ennis is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Growing Pains in Hampstead. Jennifer Coleman, PhD, is a clinical psychologist specializing in both child and family services. Brenda Knierim is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 14 years of experience. She utilizes a range of treatments for children, as well as family therapy. Pat Nolan with Sound Side Family Counseling assists children struggling with behavior due to tensions at home, separation, and divorce. Denise Scearce, with Coastal Collaborative Colleagues, works with children, couples, and families, aiming to help clients resolve their issues in a collaborative format. Amy Smith is also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker available in Hampstead. Kelly Casparius provides services for families and couples, providing convenient options such as distance therapy and telephone sessions. Garlande Powell, of Garland Powell Counseling, was appointed by both Governor Pat McCrory and Governor Roy Cooper to the North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board, and served as the Vice-Chair and Chair of the Board spanning from 2015 to 2020. Garlande addresses a range of issues, including those found in relationships. Finally, Ben Rigby, PhD, is a psychologist with Community Counseling Center. He offers family therapy for individuals struggling with communication or navigating stressful life changes, as well as parenting support.
Barbara Bass is well known for her extensive knowledge of the local housing market and community. She helps clients comfortably manage home purchases and approach new periods of their lives. She is known for her "hands-on approach and adaptability" and is well respected among peers and clients. Her goal is to make real estate purchases as straightforward and uncomplicated as possible. Barbara is dedicated to her community and strives to treat every client as a family member. Please read more about Barbara here.
Ashley Doyle is a Partner with Lumina Wealth Management and a Certified Financial Planner with over 15 years of experience, specializing in financial problem-solving and advice. Ashley is a founding member of Coastal Carolina Colleagues, a nonprofit organization that helps couples mitigate both emotional and financial damage during the divorce process. For Ashley's contact information, please visit here.
Wilmington holds a wide variety of activities for co-parents and ideal meeting places, especially during the warmer months. Parents can enjoy the outdoors and summer activities with their children at Jungle Rapids on Oleander Drive. Please see the cost of entry and additional information here. The Children's Museum of Wilmington, situated in downtown Wilmington, also offers a range of events, educational programs, and other activities for children up to age 10 throughout the year. Please visit their website here to purchase tickets and view the calendar for daily events and more. There are also many public parks families can visit free of charge, covering the entirety of the Wilmington area. For example: Empie Park, Long Leaf Park, Halyburton Park, Ogden Park, and Greenfield Park. The City of Wilmington has a comprehensive list of all parks and trails on its website, accessible here.
Cape Fear Community College provides services for divorcing parents looking to continue their education. Enrolled CFCC students may take advantage of drop-in child care, available Monday through Friday, for children aged infant to pre-teen. For additional information or to make a reservation for CFCC's drop-in childcare, please visit here. CFCC students may also apply for the Child Care Grant, which supplies financial assistance to students who have childcare costs. For more information and eligibility requirements, please visit this link. In general, CFCC has online classes and programs that some divorcing parents may find more convenient than in-person courses. For a guide to CFCC's Online Learning, please see here. Lastly, CFCC houses an Economic and Workforce Development division. The program offers short-term training that parents may find preferable if they are seeking to enhance their current skills or recertify without pursuing a degree. For more information, please refer to the program details here.
Smart Start of New Hanover County delivers parenting support in various formats: "Well-supported families are connected to the people, resources, and tools they need to raise healthy, happy children." Smart Start hosts free Play and Learn Groups for parents of children aged zero to five, as well as Circle of Parents peer support groups, to support parents and families with diverse needs. Smart Start also organizes Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) classes, which have been used worldwide for over 40 years. In Triple P classes, trained coaches provide tailored support specific to a family's needs, free of charge. Individual coaching and large seminars are available. To view all groups, programs, and schedules, please visit the Smart Start website.
The above resources are by no means exhaustive, and divorcing couples may find additional services and providers that better suit their needs. ANR Law strives to provide a starting point to help couples and parents understand their available resources and recognize that they have a support system here in Wilmington.
Sources:
https://www.evolutionwellnessnc.com/our-counseling-services/family-therapy/counseling-for-divorce/
https://www.potentialsnc.com/shelley-chambers-lcsw
https://www.magwellnessgroup.com/brenda-knierim-msw-lcsw
https://soundsidefamilycounseling.com/?page_id=132
https://www.coastalcollaborativedivorce.com/denise-scearce
https://beaconofhopenc.com/services/ https://www.garlandepowellcounseling.com/
https://www.wantcounseling.com/meet-the-team-1
https://www.seacoastrealty.com/agent/9103522274/barbara-bass
https://www.luminawm.com/staff/ashley-doyle/ https://www.junglerapids.com/
https://www.playwilmington.org/ https://www.wilmingtonnc.gov/Parks-Recreation/Parks-Trails
https://cfcc.edu/drop-in-childcare/ https://cfcc.edu/childcare-funding-available-for-cfcc-students/
https://cfcc.edu/cape-fear-online/ https://cfcc.edu/continuing-education/
https://www.newhanoverkids.org/families/parenting-support/