The Crucial Role of Mental Health Counselling in Family Law Matters
In this article, we’re explaining the crucial role of mental health counselling in family law matters. (Guest post)
Family law proceedings are often emotionally charged and complex, involving intricate dynamics that can significantly impact the well-being of individuals involved.
Recognising the intricate interplay between legal matters and mental health, the role of mental health counseling becomes paramount in navigating the complexities of family law.
This article delves into the crucial significance of mental health counseling in family law matters, often handled in line with family law solicitors, shedding light on the holistic approach necessary for the overall health of individuals and families.
What Comes Under ‘Family Law’ Matters?
Family law matters cover a wide range of cases legal issues, including:
- Divorce and separation
- Child support
- Child custody
- Child adoption
- Family property disputes
Sadly, a significant number of UK residents will require the services of a family law solicitor at least once in their lifetime, with the most common cases involving divorce and child support.
How Family Law Matters Effect Mental Wellbeing
Family law matters are, by their very nature, emotive – particularly when they involve children. It’s no wonder then that these strong emotions can lead to mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety.
In a lot of cases, family law matters can be time consuming and expensive and, when people feel that there’s no end in sight, this can soon corrode their physical and mental wellbeing.
The Role of Mental Health Counselling in Family Law Matters
Becoming embroiled in a family law matter can make you feel helpless, overwhelmed, sad and angry. All of these feelings can come together to create a perfect storm of negative emotions.
These, in turn, can lead to serious mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. As well as affecting your wellbeing, these conditions can also, in some cases, have a negative impact on the outcome of your family law case.
Because of this, it’s vital that you seek help as soon as possible and, in this section, we’re exploring the role of mental health counselling in family law matters.
When involved in a family law case, some people will often feel afraid of talking too much about the case with friends and family in case this somehow works against them. This can feel extremely isolating and lead to the unhealthy bottling up of emotions.
A mental health counsellor can help to ease the load by providing a safe, non-judgmental environment in which you can discuss what’s happening and how it makes you feel.
Speaking to a counsellor allows you to speak with an honesty that you may be afraid to display in front of friends and family for fear of judgement or reprisals. The benefit of this for many people is a huge sense of relief at having been able to share their true feelings with somebody.
Untangling emotions and motivations
During a family law case, most people will experience a range of emotions including sadness, anxiety, depression and anger – and this anger can be particularly harmful. When something makes us extremely angry, this emotion tends to eclipse everything else and can lead us to make decisions that we may regret.
A mental health counsellor will be able to help you to sort through the different emotions that you are experiencing due to your family law case in order to figure out which are important, and which are simply a reaction.
Change of perspective
The next step is to gain a sense of perspective on the case. A counsellor will help you to understand how you are feeling the way that you are and, just as important, help you to gain an understanding of why others feel the way that they do.
This is important as when you’re in the eye of the storm, you tend to develop tunnel vision which prevents you from looking at the case logically. By gaining understanding and perspective, you will not only improve your own mental health but, there’s also a possibility that this will open the door to the possibility of negotiation or mediation – which is almost always a good thing.
Mental fortification
Unfortunately, it’s a simple fact that your family law case may not go your way – a conclusion which you may naturally shy away from. Your mental health counsellor will be able to prepare you for a negative outcome and arm you with the coping skills that you will need in this unhappy event.
Mental health counselling for family law matters…
The adult world is riddled with stresses and strains coupled with complicated relationships. When something goes wrong in our close relationships it can be devastating and many people find themselves simply unable to cope.
Far from showing weakness, seeking the help of a mental health professional can give you the strength to keep fighting your case whilst protecting your own mental health as well as that of others, including children who may be entwined in your case.
Should you feel that you would benefit from mental health counselling during your family law case, your GP should be able to make a recommendation, or search online for local providers such as Anglia Counselling Ltd, where both Bob or Penni await your enquiry and are ready to offer appointments usually within one to two weeks.
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Bob Brotchie is a counsellor, mindset consultant and creator of "Conscious Living by Design"™. He writes for Anglia Counselling, is featured on various other websites and introduces us to many guest writers all covering topics related to mental health and wellbeing.
Bob provides bespoke counselling services to individuals and couples in the privacy and comfort of a truly welcoming environment at his Anglia Counselling company office, located near Newmarket in Suffolk, England. Bob also provides professional online counselling, for local, national, and international clients. The therapeutic models offered are bespoke to the client’s needs, especially those in receipt of 'childhood emotional neglect' (CEN), whilst integrating a mindful approach to psychotherapy and cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) principles. For clients experiencing trauma and/or phobia, Bob offers EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing).