In my part of the world, late February is when spring begins peeking through winter. A few days ago, rain washed away all the snow. Then overnight, winter returned as if it had never left. Living with dramatic seasonal shifts reminds me that change is constant; even when it feels uncertain or abrupt. We cannot control the world around us, but we can respond thoughtfully and adapt with intention.

That spirit of adaptation connects directly to this year’s Educational and Networking Forum theme: Collaborative Rising: Elevate Practice, Deepen Connections + Ignite Change, taking place October 29–November 1, 2026, at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Change is not something to resist; it’s something to shape. Our Forum is an opportunity to learn how others are evolving Collaborative Practice in their communities and to share the innovations emerging in your own work.

The proposal deadline for PFIs and Workshops is March 1, 2026. I strongly encourage you to submit. Your experiences—especially the ways you have adapted Collaborative Practice to meet shifting client needs—can help ignite meaningful change across our global community.

As part of my Presidential year, I’ve been highlighting the Ten Pillars of Collaborative Practice. Last month, we reflected on Persistence. This month, we turn to our ninth Pillar: Confidentiality.

Each of the Ten Pillars is a value statement, not listed in order of importance. The last six describe values we live through our community. Here’s the full statement:

In line with the IACP mission, we are committed to creating a community that protects the privacy and confidentiality of all people involved.

Confidentiality is often one of the clearest advantages of Collaborative Practice. Our private meetings and participation agreements make this commitment visible. And clients recognize its value. In the 2015 IACP Divorce Experience Study, 89.4% of Collaborative clients reported satisfaction with the level of privacy in their process—the highest-rated feature of the model.

Confidentiality is more than an ethical rule. It creates psychological safety. It allows parties to speak honestly, explore options openly, and begin building trust. Next month, we will turn to our final Pillar, Respect, the companion value that strengthens that trust even further.