Nice to meet you!
My name is Maria Akopyan. I am a California licensed family law attorney, Certified Divorce Specialist (CDS), divorce coach, and founder of Dignified Divorce Coaching.
My mission is to guide women to use their heartbreak as a catalyst for their greatest personal growth.
I've combined my legal expertise, with my training in marriage and family therapy and life coaching to provide my clients a unique and holistic approach to the divorce process and grief recovery.
The women I work with benefit from understanding the legal and practical aspects of separation and divorce, psychology, mindfulness, and spiritual principles while empowering women to take control of their lives and the dissolution of their marriage while also staying connected to their integrity.
A bit about my background...
I've always wanted to be a therapist. Since I was young, I was fascinated with understanding human psychology and with the healing arts.
My life took a turn when I decided to pursue law instead (I didn't really know myself that well back then). I graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a bachelor's degree in political science and a minor in philosophy.
It was during this time I started going deeper into my spiritual awakening. I was immersed in reading countless self-help books, listening to many thought leaders and spiritual teachers as well as healing through my own relationship heartbreaks.
Three weeks before starting law school, my intuition told me clearly to not go to law school-- that it wasn't the path for me. But... I didn't listen. I went on to graduate law school in 2014 and became a licensed attorney in California.
During this time, I was changing as a person and doing a lot of deep inner healing.
It was also during this time that I found out about life coaching. It gave me goosebumps and lit me up so I knew I had to pursue it (which I did). I became a certified life coach in 2015 and started a private coaching practice while also working in the legal field. As if that wasn't enough, in 2017, I went back to graduate school to study marriage and family therapy at Alliant International University.
After getting married in 2018, buying a house, and planning to start a family, I decided to focus my energy on working full-time as a family law attorney.
When the 2020 pandemic hit, I was on maternity leave with my newborn son at the time. This to me was the perfect opportunity to get back into coaching but with the emphasis on divorce coaching.
I started Dignified Divorce Coaching because I wanted to fill a void that I noticed in the practice of law. Divorce is a complicated process, not only legally but also financially and especially emotionally. Clients need extra support and guidance because divorce can be traumatic in many ways.
Through my online course "Divorcing with Dignity" and private coaching, I provide clients the tools for handling the emotional aspects of divorce, create a legal game plan so they make empowered decisions that are aligned with their core values, as well as develop healthy practices to thrive after divorce.
Ready to ditch the overwhelm & confusion?
Want hands-on guidance through the separation and divorce process that's customized to you?
Apply to work privately with me & let's create your plan of action for transitioning into your new life!
Apply Now
