ABSTRACT
Despite their philosophical differences re helping spouse–clients distressed over the impact of the divorce process—legal, emotional, physical, economic—both the lawyer and the therapist seek to help. Yet they are deterred and victimized by the differences between the philosophy of the law and those of therapy/counseling. The law sets limitations and barriers regarding any relationship to the opposition. Such restrictions set up the lawyer as the protagonist while the philosophy of therapy/counseling sets up the therapist/counselor to attempt at least to mediate in the distressed relationship between husband and wife.
Where it has been ethically possible, the authors, as husband and wife, have cooperated professionally to help divorcing clients. Where the adversary nature of the law as expressed in the canons of legal ethics interfered, the authors have each referred their clients to other professionals with the result that both authors have experienced a variety of interdisciplinary relationships through the years.
This article with its observations and recommendations derives from personal perspective of matrimonial law practice and clinical marriage and divorce counseling/therapy practice.
