06/11/2025
Can A Marriage Counsellor Fix your Car?
No, of course they cannot. However, I had the privilege of participating in a mediator drop-in clinic recently and heard some clients recount very interesting scenarios where their marriage counsellor assisted the parties in drafting the terms of a separation agreement. This is as helpful as asking a counsellor to fix my car. I have always had the utmost respect for marriage counsellors and in fact, all counsellors. With my background in psychology, I have long believed that matrimonial breakdowns are best resolved using a multi-disciplinary approach, as per collaborative family law which I introduced in Europe in the early 2000’s. This is a client-centred dispute resolution process with separation & divorce coaches, a child specialist and/or neutral financial specialist, as needed.
However, to not use a qualified dispute resolution professional in the family settlement process but rather a marriage counsellor (who has no liability insurance, by the way) as the lead professional is fraught with peril. These clients had no idea that they had an interest in other family property including a pension and years after the separation they were also not clear on the appropriate amount for determining income for the purposes of child support.
The reason that family lawyers are uniquely qualified to be family mediators is not only because of our legal background, we are also required to attend 12 hours of CPD credits annually which means most of us keep up with current family law. The same cannot be said of all other professional groups. So many clients do not know what they do not know and believe that they are protected when they are absolutely not informed about their legal rights and obligations.
All this to say, it is very concerning to briefly meet clients who have never had the benefit of even a consultation with a qualified family dispute resolution professional. Years later they must address legal deficiencies that could have been avoided when limitation periods may have already run, not to mention the peace of mind and stability for the children when finality is obtained based on a legally enforceable separation agreement.
Free and or paid legal resources:
- https://www.westcoastfamilymediation.ca/
- https://mediatebc.com/
- https://www.collaborativefamilylawgroup.com/
- https://legalaid.bc.ca/
- https://www.accessprobono.ca/
- https://www.familylawinbc.ca/visit/justice-access-centre-vancouver-victoria-and-nanaimo
Government-funded offices that provide family and civil law information, advice, and services
