Ellen B. Holtzman

I had been hoping and praying for ten years that I could save my marriage. A traumatic event in my husband's life led to his abuse of alcohol, drugs, and eventually me and our two girls. I had a good job at a leading financial institution in New York, but all of the happiness was being drained from o...ur lives. Before long, both our young daughters had begin abusing drugs. They were acting out their anger and depression in other heartbreaking ways, too. despite all this, I continued to try to make the marriage work for ten long years. A faithful Catholic, I rejected the very idea of divorce. But I finally realized that my marriage was hopeless, and my life was a shambles. My insistence on trying to save the marriage was destroying the ones I lived the most, the ones who most deserved my love--my children. As the violence escalated, a therapist referred me to Ellen Holtzman. Ellen moved immediately to get me an Order of Protection. My husband had long since stopped being a husband or father, but he fought the divorce. Ellen and her staff were so caring and so good to me. Ellen guided me every step of the way. We spent long hours after my work day was over with thousands of sheets of paper. I always felt like I was her top priority. She knew what I would need to take care of the girls, and she created the best possible scenario for us. Just walking through the courthouse with Ellen, I could see how well liked and respected she is, and I felt like a million dollars. Ultimately, I got full legal and physical custody, and Ellen helped me to see my way clear to a better future. It hasn't been all smooth sailing, but we are working to build that future now, and I am so grateful to Ellen, and to the therapist who led me to Ellen Holtzman and this new life.