Specialists from Burgess Mee, the family and private wealth law firm, and Rosefield Divorce Consultancy launch a trauma collaboration and call for all family law professionals to be trauma-informed.
As Burgess Mee co-founder and partner, Peter Burgess, said that working in the family courts without an understanding of the impact of trauma “risks evidence being misunderstood” and “vastly increases the potential for unjust decisions”. She added:
“An awareness of trauma – and how to help clients manage it – is essential if justice is to be served.”
Rosefield Divorce Consultancy’s founder, Laura Rosefield, said that the impact of trauma on people going through family law issues can be “truly debilitating”. She continued:
“…both on the person suffering and any children. It’s critical that family law professionals can recognise the signs of trauma in their clients so that they can provide the most appropriate advice and support.”
In what is believed to be a market first, Burgess Mee and Rosefield Divorce Consultancy have trained all their solicitors and consultants to recognise the signs of trauma, understand how it might affect a client – particularly during pressure points in the legal process – and to identify adjustments to best support the client. As part of this, they are introducing formal, trauma-specific processes, including how they communicate with clients, recommending or rejecting particular options for dispute resolution, or arranging additional support such as therapeutic interventions.
The pioneering trauma training and approach was devised by Burgess Mee and Rosefield Divorce Consultancy, in collaboration with Innisfree Therapy, a clinic that uses a unique approach to trauma based on therapeutic innovation and neuroscience.
What’s more, they have created a unique trauma resource for clients – www.withinthewindow.com – to help clients to stay in their “window of tolerance” and avoid the typical trauma responses: fight, flight, freeze or fawn. Dr. Kirsty Loudon, Clinical Director at Innisfree Therapy, said:
“As a psychotherapy practice working with both individuals and couples, we often see the devastating effects that the legal process can have on clients’ wellbeing. We strongly believe a trauma-informed approach in family law is vital for understanding the significant effects of trauma on clients’ actions, decision-making and ability to cope in the legal system.”
