NYACP NEWS ~ November 2025
Volume 7, Issue 3
In this Issue
President's Message
NYACP Board of Directors
Member Spotlights
NYACP Pods
Support Groups for Collaborative Practice (SGCP)
Committees
MESSAGE FROM OUR 2025 NYACP PRESIDENT
 By Ellen Jancko-Baken
NYACP Members, Happy November!
Welcome back! As we transition into the fall season, our NYACP calendar is full and vibrant once again. This is always one of the most exciting times of year for our community, a season filled with educational webinars, engaging PODS, networking opportunities, and special events that bring together NYACP members and like-minded professionals. I encourage each of you to take advantage of these opportunities to learn, connect, and grow within our thriving network.
This year also marks an extraordinary milestone for NYACP, our 25th Anniversary Gala, taking place on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at Brae Burn Country Club in Purchase, NY. This special evening will celebrate 25 years of dedication, innovation, and leadership in advancing collaborative practice in New York. It will be a night to honor the individuals whose vision and commitment built the foundation we continue to grow upon, our Founders and Past Presidents.
The Gala is more than just a celebration; it’s an opportunity for reflection and gratitude. We’ll look back on how far we’ve come as an organization and look ahead to the exciting future of collaborative practice. The evening will feature heartfelt tributes, great company, dinner and dancing, and of course, memories shared among friends and colleagues who have shaped NYACP’s journey.
I invite all members to join us for this memorable evening, and to consider supporting the event through a sponsorship or journal ad. Sponsorships are a meaningful way to honor our founders and leaders. Details can be found in the Gala Sponsorship Prospectus.
As we celebrate 25 years of collaboration, compassion, and professional excellence, I look forward to seeing familiar faces and welcoming new members into our growing community. Let’s make this fall season ,and this milestone year, one to remember.
NYACP Board of Directors
YOUR BOARD AT WORK
The NYACP Board meets on the second Thursday every other month. We recently had an in-person retreat at the Tarrytown House where we spent an entire day together developing/imagining our mission and planning action steps necessary to achieve that mission. We are now at 114 members. NYACP is continually growing. Participate and be a part of our mission!
The Board recently approved the development and implementation of a program that will offer members the opportunity to acquire an Advanced Seal of Excellence in education and training. The Advanced Seal through NYACP sets these professionals apart as leaders in their field. Special thanks to Kathleen Donelli, Marcos Fernandez, Randy Heller, and Steve Kaplan for their work on this project. We will be working on the continued development of this project. Begin to log your continuing education programming to utilize to document your advanced education. Please look out for further information for our launch in May 2026!
What The Advanced Seal Represents:
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Commitment to Excellence: The Advanced Seal demonstrates that a professional has met rigorous standards, including specialized advanced training in Collaborative Practice, and has substantial experience working collaboratively to resolve conflicts.
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Ethical Standards: Professionals with The Advanced Seal are held to high ethical standards, ensuring that their work aligns with the core values of transparency, respect, and client empowerment.
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Continuous Learning: The Advanced Seal process requires ongoing education and training, which ensures that professionals remain current with best practices and innovative approaches within the Collaborative framework.
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Teamwork and Interdisciplinary Expertise: Professionals with the Advanced Seal are skilled at working as part of a multidisciplinary team, providing comprehensive support for families navigating conflict.
Benefits of NYACP Advanced Seal for Professionals:
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Professional Recognition: The Advanced Seal establishes credibility and positions professionals as trusted leaders in their field. This recognition can enhance client trust and referrals from other professionals.
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Enhanced Client Outcomes: The Advanced Seal verifies that professionals have advanced training in conflict resolution and communication, enabling them to guide families more effectively toward sustainable, mutually beneficial agreements.
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Networking Opportunities: The Advanced Seal provides access to a network of like-minded professionals committed to the expansion of Collaborative Practice. This fosters opportunities for learning, mentorship, and partnerships.
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Differentiation in the Marketplace: With the NYACP Advanced Seal, professionals stand out in a competitive market, emphasizing their dedica7on to learning the most effective and efficient ways to resolve disputes in a respectful, efficient, and client-centered manner.
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Contributing to the Growth of Collaborative Practice By obtaining the Advanced Seal, professionals demonstrate a commitment to advancing the collaborative movement, helping to transform the way conflicts are resolved in NY and beyond.
Bylaws Update
A task force has been appointed to review and update the current by-laws continues to meet. This task force is comprised of Alan Dubow, Esq., Randy Heller, PhD, Anthony Markus, Esq., and Larry Rothbard, Esq. Recommendations for updates and amendments will be made to the Boarf at our next meeting in November.
Each board member either participates on or chairs a committee. There is a tremendous amount of coordination and collaboration between committee members to plan programming that will enable you as members to participate as your schedule allows.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS
Remembering Steve Linker
We regret to inform our membership of the loss of our dear friend, board member, colleague, and Collaborative professional, Steve Linker, who passed away in the Spring.
Several NYACP members gathered on September 21st with Steve’s family, friends and fellow peacemakers to remember all of Steve’s wonderful attributes and contributions not only to NYACP, but to all who were fortunate enough to know him. Steve, you are terribly missed!
  
Expanding Collaborative Law in the Hudson Valley
Lazar Schwartz & Jones, LLP, continued its recent expansion, announcing that NYACP member Sherry A. Bishko has joined the firm. Sherry is expected to divide her time between the firm’s main office in Hopewell Junction, Dutchess County and its new office in New Windsor, NY which is across the river in Orange County. Sherry has relocated to Orange County where she was actually born and raised in the small village of Tuxedo Park. She is thrilled to be back in Orange County where she and Lazar partners Kathryn Lazar and Brett Jones are working to expand the practice of Collaborative Law.
The NYACP’s anticipated 2026 spring training is on the horizon for not only Orange County practitioners but those throughout the tri-state area and an opportunity to expand the NYACP’s membership. Thereafter, is an Orange County Collaborative Pod a possibility? Lazar Schwartz & Jones, LLP is working to make that answer a resounding – Yes!
NYACP Members Participated In a Collaborative Law Workshop at Elisabeth Haub School of Law (AKA Pace Law School) on Sunday, 10/26/25
Deborah Wayne and Kathleen Donelli - Since 2008, Deborah Wayne and Kathleen] Donelli have taught a Collaborative Law class at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law (AKA Pace Law School) in White Plains. Throughout the semester, the students work on a hypothetical case, involving a family going through a collaborative divorce. The high point of the semester was a 6-hour Intensive Collaborative Law (CL) Skills Workshop during which the students participated in two Role Plays based on the hypothetical that the students have used throughout the semester: an hour and a half Collaborative Law Meeting on Parenting and an hour and a half Collaborative Law Meeting on Finances. After each Role Play, the students “debrief” with the participating professionals for a half hour. Deborah’s & Kathleen’s goal is to have the students role-play the collaborative attorneys and the participating professional attorneys play the hypothetical spouses, joined by a mental health professional and /or a financial professional in each Role Play.
Dr. Randy Heller wrote and teaches a semester-long graduate course in Collaborative Divorce to MFT grad students at Nova Southeastern University, in its thirteenth year, teaches a Collaborative Divorce Class to graduate students of Couple, Marriage, and Family Therapy. These students are on the front lines with couples who will divorce and now know how to direct them toward peace.
Let’s get this next generation out there, spreading the word about this better way to get divorced!
Katherine Miller of the Miller Law Group Shares about the inspiration for her new book… Several years ago, a Collaborative client asked me to write a book about what I do — how I help people navigate divorce in a way that honors both their emotions and their values. It took years to figure out what that book should be to truly serve people facing divorce, but I’m thrilled to share that The Emotionally Savvy Divorce: Smart Negotiations for a Clean Break (Page Two) will be released on January 6, 2026.
This book grew out of the heart of our collaborative practice — helping clients manage strong emotions, make thoughtful decisions, and build solutions that reflect what matters most to them. As I look toward the Fall, I feel deep gratitude for my NYACP colleagues, whose dedication, insight, and compassion have profoundly shaped my work and continue to inspire me every day.
 NYACP PODS
POD Meetings are monthly. Please check the full calendar on our website for topics, dates and times. PODS, which meet monthly via a virtual format, make this opportunity accessible to all of our members regardless of where you reside. To look back at previous POD Presentations visit the Video Library. That said, PODS are a wonderful way to learn, grow, and develop relationships with your fellow Collaborative Colleagues. Looking forward to seeing all of you taking advantage of this great member benefit. Thank you to all of our Pod leaders!
NEW YORK CITY POD
On September 9, 2025 – The New York City Pod hosted Steve Kaplan, CPA/ABV, MBA presenting on New Federal Tax Legislation Highlights - What Is In It, Good and Bad, For You and Your Clients? Moderated by: Judith Stein, Ph.D., LCSW. In his presentation, Steve discussed the reality that major new Federal tax legislation is now in effect, with a mix of potential savings and pitfalls depending upon one's circumstances and planning. For sure this new legislation has important family law implications you will want to be aware of. Steve provided a wealth of information followed by a wonderful interactive discussion.
On October 14th, Judie Stein and the NYC POD welcomed Dr. Rick Hanson, psychologist, Buddhist, and founder of the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom to present his approach to understanding his approach to Hardwiring Happiness, The Neuroscience of Divorce (And Life in General). Dr Hanson explained that our brains develop what he refers to as “negativity bias” for survival, along with the three operating systems of our brains (Avoiding, Approaching, and Attaching) that are especially activated in divorcing people, as well as the differences we experience when our brains are in reactive versus responsive modes. Dr Hanson provided a simple approach we can all use immediately to "change our minds, change our brains, change our minds" to cope with high stress and stay clear, present, and centered so we can be as fully present and helpful to our clients as possible--and not fall apart ourselves?
NORTHERN WESTCHESTER POD
The NW Pod meets on the third Wednesday of every month from Sept- June from 9 to 10AM. On 9/17/25 Danielle Kestnbaum from Family Wizard spoke about their new partnership with Keepr Monitoring a discreet affordable breathalyzer designed for co-parents navigating custody cases and to share exciting new innovations to the Our Family Wizard platform. Our Family Wizard has been an integral part of many of our Parenting Plans when we are collaborating with parents and guiding them toward the most effective tools for managing their co-parenting relationship and responsibilities after divorce. Danielle explained the most updated approaches.
On October 15th Ken Novenstern and Melissa Goodstein led an informal roundtable discussion on how to approach separate property considerations in our collaborative practices. The NW Pod is led by Melissa Goodstein, Esq.
LONG ISLAND POD
On October 7, 2025 the LI POD hosted an open discussion was moderated by Nancy Kaye ,CFP on many of the issues that commonly arise in our Collaborative matters, such as: How to keep the pace of a collaborative case when clients stall after the initial start of the process. How does it affect taking on other cases? What happens when information becomes stale? Unreal expectations of clients when they want to jump back in and now there is a delay coordinating professional schedules? This provided a great opportunity to learn with and from our colleagues about how they find creative solutions to these very important questions.
Please contact any of the pod leaders if you would like to present or share a future topic or speaker of interest for a future meeting.
NYACP SUPPORT GROUPS
All NYACP Members are encouraged to take the opportunity to join a Support Group. Participation will provide you with the experience of joining with other members in our community to connect in a more in-depth way regarding our work and best practices. This is separate from our POD Groups. These are closed groups and they require a commitment. This commitment includes being responsible for presenting, and addressing some of the complexities that can arise on your Collaborative matters. This can be a vulnerable undertaking and building trust and understanding with our colleagues is an essential part of why these groups are valuable. We all know how challenging our work can be.
Northern Westchester Support Group – The NW SGCP Group has been meeting since September 2011 and meets on the third Wednesday every other month from 5:30 to 6:30. NYACP established these groups for the purpose of refining members’ collaborative practice skills through group discussion, self-reflection, feedback, and acquired insight with group participation. Confidentiality and attendance are required to encourage consistency and the building of trust. The members of the NW SGCP group led by Melissa Goodstein include Ellen Jancko-Baken, Tony Markus, Kenneth Novenstern, Meg Sussman, Michelle Lewis, Alan Dubow, Lydia Milone, Margaretha Gravett, Ivan Alter, Lili Vasileff. If you are interested in joining a SGCP group, please contact NYACP’s executive director Sarah Sheehan.
Mental Health Support Group - Our NYACP Family Specialists got together on October 28 for our quarterly support group meeting. The conversation was about helping each other to best help our clients. Thank you to Jeffrey Steiger and Bob Raymond for facilitating this group. These meetings are held quarterly on Tuesday mornings from 8:00 am-9:00 am. Only NYACP members qualify to participate in this group. Check the calendar.
A new Support Group Collaborative Practice (SGCP) "Welcoming Diversity in Culture and Practice" is launching with meetings the 4th Tuesday of every other month from 5:30-6:30pm, the first of which was held on October 28th, and thereafter will be in December, February, April and June. In December and June we will be scheduling a field trip focusing on diversity in culture. This group will support members who want to be thoughtful about the impact of identity and culture in their collaborative work and are eager to collaborate with like-minded colleagues to help put the "how" into the "what" we commit to. This SGCP like all SGCP groups will require commitment of participation and is open to all NYACP members. Contact Sarah at [email protected] or Melissa Goodstein [email protected] or Catherine Canade [email protected] for more information.
COMMITTEES
NYACP TRAINING AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE
NYACP Training and Education Committee meets the first Thursday of every month to develop and implement monthly training and educational programs for NYACP with a mix of in-person and virtual meetings. The committee, led by co-chairs Anthony Markus and Melissa Goodstein include Kenneth Novenstern, Ivan Alter, Alan Dubow, Kathleen Donelli, Michael McLaughlin, Michael Kislin, Katherine Miller and Meg Sussman. Programming for 2025 successfully began with our annual financial symposium led by Michael McLaughlin on September 17, 2025. We had a panel discussion on October 21st in White Plains on the dynamics of introducing stop the clock provisions into the collaborative process. We are also planning a virtual training on November 14th on Domestic Violence Screening Tools 2025; a virtual interdisciplinary presentation on confidentiality in collaborative terms on January 23, 2026 led by Elana Katz; LinkedIn for professionals virtual meeting with Bruce Siegal on February 20, 2026; Real Estate Issues in Collaborative Practices on March 26, 2026 led by Tony Markus and Alan Dubow; and the third part of our collaborative skills series planned for the Spring 2026. The committee is also hard at work in planning a BCIT training and refresher for NYACP members in the Spring 2026- Stay Tuned!
Most programs will provide CLEs, CMEs. And CEUs (Sponsored by Family Kind)
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
The NYACP Membership Committee is comprised of Barbara Bel, Catherine Canade, Jacqueline Caputo, Stacy Collins, Ariella Deutsch, Marcos Fernandez, Shara Goldfarb, Adam Halper, Randy Heller, Nancy Kaye, Michael Kislin, Michelle Lewis, Stephen Linker and Teresa Ombres.
Bringing Sunshine to Our NYACP Family
The NYACP Sunshine Committee
A group was formed within the Membership Committee, which includes Adam Halper, Michelle Lewis, Randy Heller and Theresa Ombres to explore creating more of a family feeling at the NYACP. We met a few weeks ago and came up with a proposed list of life events that would be acknowledged, and in some cases celebrated with a gift or other small, inexpensive gift, greeting or even a meeting or get together. We are calling it the Sunshine Committee. If you are aware of any “events” you think we should know about, please contact us.
The Membership Committee has Several Sub- Working Groups:
Growing the Collaborative Circle (GCC) the mission of which is to grow our relationships with other organizations outside of the NYACP that would be interested in the work we do. The GCC and the New York Mental Health Community are planning to join together for a Social and Networking Event in January 2026. Look out for details to come.
Our Events Working Group is responsible for putting together various events to help our members connect and build relationships. In addition tom our ongoing events, they arrange monthly Collaborative Connection lunches on Long Island, in New York City and in Westchester for our members to get to know one another in a more intimate setting.
The NYACP’s Membership Committee’s Fall Mentorship Program led by Shara Goldfarb and Theresa Ombres is well underway. We started a new cycle/semester of the NYACP Mentorship Program on October 15th. On December 4th, we will celebrate and honor founding members and past presidents of NYACP, twenty-five years after our New York group was started. Many of us were in our forties back then. You can do the math. We are now of an age where, it is said, we naturally gravitate to teaching. Being a mentor is a great experience. If you have ever taught, you know that you probably learn as much from your students as they do from you. They have fresh insights, more contemporary concerns, and help us be more reflective about how we practice. We highly recommend joining the roster of mentors.
If you are a new Collaborative practitioner, this is an invaluable experience for you. You will be very pleasantly surprised at how warm and friendly Collaborative practitioners are. Come to a collaborative meeting. We sure have lots of them! We are really different. We wear nametags! We are friendly and inviting. And not so competitive. And care about and enjoy this work. This program is guaranteed to get you better initiated in this work and feel more a part of NYACP – to this 25-year veteran’s mind – the gold standard of collaborative work. Once a year, in the Spring, mentees and mentors get together, in person, for drinks and small bites. Another good chance to share our experiences… this time in a more festive environment.
If you want to know more, please contact Theresa or Shara, Co-chairs of the NYACP Mentorship program.
Buddy Program - Rachel Green, Esq. will be heading up the NYACP Buddy Program. Many of us will envy the new members of NYACP, when we learn about the buddy program. Some forward thinking (perhaps idealistic) members of the Board of Director noticed that new members could come into our group and feel like outsiders. Some of us have been doing this work for decades, and have had cases with many others, and we gravitate toward the familiar, at NYACP events.
However, we want (and need) to have new members join and stay in our organization, to continue to do the good work we are doing with the support and guidance we get from NYACP. For that reason, we have implemented a buddy program. When someone’s application is approved by Membership, they will get an email telling them they have been matched with a Board Member, who will then send an email personally welcoming them to the NYACP, and letting them know that we are available to answer any questions they may have about NYACP’s member benefits and collaborative practice. The Board member will offer to schedule a Zoom meeting for them to meet virtually be welcoming, and to learn how to navigate the NYACP website and explain all of the membership benefits. We want new members to feel welcomed, and have support and resources from the NYACP so that they can hit the ground running.
NYACP Collaborative Connection Lunches
If you are a Collaborative professional looking to expand your connections with your collaborative colleagues, join us for our bi-monthly meet-ups for lunch, coffee, or drinks after work. The gatherings in Westchester, Long Island and Manhattan offer an easy way to get to know your collaborative counterparts better with a simple RSVP. These get togethers offer a wonderful opportunity to connect with collaborative colleagues you might not already know, share experiences and insights, and learn more about one another both personally and professionally. Invitations are sent out by the office for each scheduled gathering and the first eight NYACP members to register will reserve a spot for the next luncheons at a designated time and location. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with your peers and get more involved in the NYACP.
Charlotte Ejderberg (a new Family Specialist to NYACP) and Randy Heller made a great “connection” at The Grand Brasserie IN Grand Central Terminal in October.
The Easterners on Long Island wrapped up the summer and had another great lunch at Cowfish. Barbara Rothberg, Bob Raymond, Catherine Canade, Nancy Kaye, Amy Caron Day and a newcomer Debra Silverman. Conversations flowed. The weather was outstanding, and it was another great time of bonding with colleagues who have become friends.
RECENT EVENTS
On September 17, 2025, several of our Financial Professionals presented to our community gathered at Grand Central Plaza for the 2025 Financial Symposium. Topics and presenters were:
Is There Really Such a Thing as an Innocent Spouse
Understanding Innocent Spouse Relief
Barbara Bel, CPA
PKF O’Connor Davies
Understanding the Ins & Outs of Real Estate – A Unique Asset Class:
A Discussion about Why Its Often “Valued” and Looked at Differently Between Spouses.
Steven Kaplan, CPA/ABV
Andrew Samalin, CFP, EA, CDFA
Introduction to Alternative Assets
Michael B. Kislin, Financial Advisor, CFP, CIMA, CEPA, CFA
Morgan Stanley | Wealth Management
The symposium was well attended, and led to an interactive learning experience for all of our members. Thank you to our presenters for your wisdom and expertise!
"Stop-the-Clock" Agreements and the Collaborative Process.
Panelists: Neil Kozak, Esq., Kathleen Donelli, Esq. and Katherine Miller
Moderator: Anthony Markus, Esq.
The presentation included discussion around:
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What does it mean to enter into a Stop-the-Clock agreement?
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Discussion on written agreements
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Discussion – 2025 Second Department Decision as to “Stop-the-Clock Agreements
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How, when and whether to introduce Stop-the Clock agreements in the Collaborative Process
Navigating the Emotional Landscape of Divorce: Collaborative Divorce – A Career Niche for Couples, Marriage, and Family Therapists
This interactive workshop, hosted by The Ackerman Institue, the premier training institute in NYC for Couples, Marriage, and Family Therapy, held on October 29, 2025, was intended to introduce Couples, Marriage and Family Therapists (and therapists in training) to the Collaborative Divorce Model, demonstrating how they can effectively utilize their clinical skills to support clients through the collaborative process without engaging in traditional therapy.
Dr. Randy Heller received her doctorate in Family Therapy from Nova Southeastern University and wrote her dissertation on the Role of the Mental Health Professional working in Collaborative Divorce. Randy has held numerous positions as an Educator, Exceptional Student Specialist, and Family Therapist. Dr. Heller is licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) in Florida, New York, and Connecticut, is a Florida Certified Supreme Court Family Mediator, Qualified Parenting Coordinator, Reunification Specialist, Certified Hypnotherapist, and Founder and Clinical Director of The Family Network, Collaborative Counseling Center for Positive Growth and Change, established in 1994.
Dr. Heller currently serves as a Board member of the New York Association of Collaborative Professionals (NYACP), as well as the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP). Dr. Heller is an active committee member, as well as being as a more recent member of the NYSCDM.
UPCOMING EVENTS - SAVE THE DATES
Our First Annual celebration is potluck-style! Let’s kick off the holiday season together with an evening full of warmth, laughter, and community at our first Friendsgiving celebration! It’s a time to reconnect, welcome new faces, and enjoy the kind of camaraderie that makes our group feel more like family. Bring your favorite appetizer, holiday drink, or dessert to share with the group. Whether you’ve been with us for years or are just getting involved, we’d love for you to be part of this special evening.
The New York Association of Collaborative Professionals (NYACP) is delighted to announce our sponsorship packages for the 25th Anniversary Gala, taking place on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at the Brae Burn Country Club in Purchase, New York.
For 25 years, NYACP has been a steadfast advocate for a client-centered approach, enabling individuals navigating divorce and other transitions to resolve conflicts with dignity, respect, and positive outcomes. Through networking, training, and raising public awareness about the benefits of Collaborative Practice, we empower our members to excel and elevate their practices. Don’t forget to register or sponsor an ad TODAY.
Split Viewing – Coming to NYACP in the Spring 2026
Split is a documentary that was developed many years ago exploring the lived experiences of children whose parents were divorcing. 10 years later they were interviewed again. How are they doing, what did they need, were their needs met, how would you, as Collaborative professionals bring their voices into the room?
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about the impact of divorce through the eyes of the children. This is a wonderful presentation that will provide you with tremendous insight for yourselves as professionals and to share with your divorcing parents. Ellen Bruno (Director) will be available via Zoom, along with Christine McGee , Randy Heller, and Ellen Jancko-Baken for an interactive panel discussion. Date and time TBD. Please watch out for future announcements.
UPCOMING TRAININGS
See the NYACP website for additional information on upcoming Interdisciplinary Collaborative Trainings.
If you know of any Law, or Graduate students in Mental Health or Business who show an interest in Collaborative Practice process who want to be trained, and ultimately add to our next generation of professional members of our organization, the Kevin Scudder Higher Education Scholarship Fund in place to financially support their training. Please send inquiries to Randy Heller at [email protected]
The NYACP Newsletter is intended to inform you not only about what is going on in your organization. It is an invitation and opportunity for our members to get involved as you strengthen your Collaborative relationships and your practice. Please send information about you, your practice, your activities, and your success to Randy Heller.
[email protected]
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