Compassionate Divorce

Hi, my name is Ryka George. I am a mother, a certified birth and postpartum doula, a lacation specialist and a woman who has been through divorce. I provide parent peer counseling and mediation support for families who are divorcing with young children or babies.

Divorce is never an easy process. It is particularly challenging when you are divorcing during pregnancy, with an infant or with very young children.

Most life transitions contain an element of fear, like leaving home for the first time, getting married, having children, and getting divorced.

My own divorce, like many others, was filled with anger and fear. But I soon learned that my anger and my fear were not going to ease our transition; I knew I needed to find another way. Eventually I did.

Early in 2011, about 10 years after my divorce, my attorney contacted me knowing I had been caring for families before, during, and after birth for more than a decade as a doula.* I was asked to help a family where the dad needed support in learning to care for his infant daughter, the mom needed reassurance that her daughter would be safe, and they both needed someone to help them refocus on the needs of their young daughter. I agreed to work with this family and was able to provide the support that they needed.

As I work with couples and their infants or children, I draw from my vast professional experiences, my life as a mother and my personal journey of growth.

Here are some of the ways that I can Help:

Facilitating discussions that allow parents the opportunity to discover

the best solutions for their family

Helping parents develop a unified parenting approach by providing recommendations

and resources that meet each family's unique needs

Facilitating Clear Communication between all parties including status

reports when needed for attorneys, mediators, and parents

Teaching Parenting skills and providing support during visitation when needed

Providing an opportunity for parents to vent and then refocus on

what is best for their infant or children

Providing individualized, age appropriate suggestions to parents so they can

customize both visitation schedules and transitions for their children

Pregnancy and Divorce are rarely discussed together.

I am here to support families before, during and after birth and to provide lactation services when needed. *

I am here for you; my life experiences have enriched my understanding of families. My personal journey through divorce with my children, my work as a birth and postpartum doula since 1995 and my work as a trained breastfeeding educator since 1993 has prepared me to provide for the unique needs of a family in transition.

I am able to support parents in a way that facilitates open communication and focuses on the needs of the infant or children. I will meet with parents separately as well as together.

I provide a safe environment for parents to communicate. My services DO NOT replace the services of a therapist. In fact, I strongly suggest that each parent seek out the services of a licensed therapist. **

My intention is to help parents create a peaceful relationship that focuses on the needs of their baby or children. I help parents by sharing parenting resources, my experiences, and recommending books and websites that will help them on their journey as parents. They are then able to begin developing a unified style of parenting so their children and infants can experience consistency, compassion and love, while they experience less stress and more joy.

My clients describe what I do best, so please take a moment to visit the testimonial page.

If you would like me to assist your family through divorce please contact me so we can discuss your needs.

Thank you for considering my services.

I can be reached at (512) 527-8684

*I am utilizing life skills that I have gained as a certified doula but I am also providing, parent peer counseling, mediation support, and education; doula and lactation services are to be contracted for separately. If you would like more information about doula services click here.

** My services DO NOT replace the services of a licensed therapist or a court appointed Parent Coordinator.