Hybrid Interdisciplinary Referral Model

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This practice spread across the United States and across the globe (Wray 1). The approach was revolutionary because it took off the pressure to litigate that sometimes revolves around attorneys. Additionally, the media and social constructs place an emphasis on the adversarial process of family law cases and therefore promotes unrealistic expectations (Wray 2). The role of lawyers is to assist the parties in reaching a resolution without adversarial proceedings and the other professionals are there to help the parties with the other stressful components of this process (Tesler 9). In some literature, the collaborative process involving professionals other than lawyers is referred to a “hybrid interdisciplinary referral model” (Tesler 9-10). …show more content…

Legal psychologists conduct in almost every area of family law, which includes divorce, annulments, property settlements, alimony, child custody, surrogacy, and others (Bartol 282). Aside from the collaborative practice, mental health professionals are incorporated into family law cases either to assist the court in making custody or custody-related decisions (Bartol 287). The preference of using mental health professionals partly derives from their use of research and developmental focus background (Bartol 287). Usually, judges and attorneys are untrained in the dynamics of interpersonal relationships and the developmental difference between children, adolescents, and adults. Therefore, mental health professionals provide invaluable information about family dynamics, relationships, and influences (Bartol …show more content…

Though collaborative attorneys can advocate and provide support for the client, the mental health team is the one that specializes in assisting the client in working out their internal emotions, while focusing on being able to make impactful decisions. Attorneys’ incisiveness, analytical skills, and logical deductive reasoning are powerful in reaching resolutions, but sometimes not well-suited to aid clients with mental health issues. Hence, the collaborative process offers the potential for deeper and more durable resolution than going through the court system (Tesler

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