Making Divorces Less Painful Is A Growing Business

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Just hearing the word divorce is enough to make many hearts skip a beat as the pain and despair it may bring become all too real. But, these days, there's been an explosion in products and services to help make divorce easier to survive.

"It can be something that's life stopping," said Sonja Fisher a client of Divorce Detox.

Divorce detox is a program that promises to teach you how to feel better, not bitter. It's one of many new programs, products, and services designed to take the pain out of a split. There are now divorce coaches and planners, a divorce toolkit, even a "divorce in a box."

"Finally people really realize they need these resources," said Francine Baras, Start Over Smart Co-founder.

Mother-daughter team Francine Baras and Nicole Feuer created a full conference focusing on divorce after Nicole's marriage went up in flames.

"I think companies are starting to recognize that there are millions of people getting divorced and it's a niche that needs to be served," said Nicole.

Their "start over smart" event is a two-day conference and exposition where recent divorcees can learn about all of the help that is now available around the country.

"We provide all the services people would need that they don't even think about; career advice, dating advice, advice on your children," Nicole said.

While trying to get a clear-cut number on the divorce business is not easy, it's well into the billions and growing larger by the day. Therapists and psychological organizations say the new options are good, but with nearly a million divorces each year, each split can be very different.

The one thing many agree on: seeing a licensed professional for help.

"It helps them lay the foundation for a new life, get closure from their past and transition through this process, healing the emotions," said Allison Pescosolido of Divorce Detox

CBS4 spoke with a representative from the family institute at Northwestern University about the trend in divorce aid. The school said all the additional avenues for help are a great option, but each individual may need tailor-made help and guidance which they can find with a licensed therapist.