Like enmeshed couples, direct-conflict couples often arrive in their lawyer's offies with a "let's go for the jugular" mentality. However, unlike enmeshed couples, they are capable of negotiating their own divorce solutions because they will listen to feedback. They can obserce the destructive nature of their behaviors and eventually own up to their feelings of guilt, blame, fear, and failure. Although they are not ready to negotiate initially, womewhere during the divorce process first one and then the other will demonstrate the necessary qualities for "win-win" bargaining. Usually, the one who is better ab le to handle conflict will express interest in negotiating. The other will need to develop more self confidence before following to the negotiating table. At this point, the prognosis for self directed negotiation is good for this couple, even though they weren't ready at first.

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