How are experts vetted?
We don’t just add names to a list. Every expert starts with an application, and a real human reads it. We look at their background, the services they offer, who they support, and how they describe their scope of practice. We’re looking for a good fit with our mission, clear ethics, and a grounded, client-centered approach.
We also pay attention to training and experience. Divorce support is broad: some experts focus on emotional support, some on logistics and planning, some on money or real estate, some on communication and conflict — and many blend a few of those together. Across all of that, what matters to us is that:
Their training and/or education makes sense for the work they’re doing.
They have real, relevant experience in this space.
They describe their work honestly and clearly, without over-promising or blurring lines.
Credentials matter to us. We look at self-reported credentials alongside experience, approach, and how clearly someone defines their role.
Just as important: how someone practices. We weigh ethics, inclusivity, and trauma-informed care just as much as we do resumes. There have been times when certified coaches have applied and we’ve chosen not to bring them into the community because their perspective, language, or marketing didn’t feel aligned with our values. Now more than ever, we’re committed to being an inclusive space for divorce across identities, family structures, and stories. If someone’s approach doesn’t feel protective of the humans we serve, we’re not comfortable featuring them or referring clients their way.
Fresh Starts is also built as a community, not a one-time signup. Through networking calls, workshops, podcast episodes, events, and ongoing email conversations, we get to know our experts over time. We see how people show up, how they talk about clients, how they hold boundaries around their role, and who they’re the best fit to support. That ongoing relationship is a big part of why we feel confident recommending and spotlighting folks.
Because the field itself is changing, our process changes too. Coaching — including divorce coaching — is still evolving, with more specific specialties emerging (divorce coaching, decision coaching, accountability coaching, discernment coaching, and more). The questions we ask and the language we use today aren’t identical to what we used four years ago or even two years ago, and that’s intentional. As roles become more defined, we keep refining how we categorize experts, talk about scope, and guide consumers to the right kind of support.
Underneath all of this is our simplest guiding principle: People come to Fresh Starts in an incredibly vulnerable season. We want them to be met by professionals who will lift them up, reflect their dignity back to them, and help them move forward feeling safer and more supported — not more scared or confused.