In the Throes of Divorce
| Author | David Straker |
| Published date | 01 September 1979 |
| Date | 01 September 1979 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/026455057902600303 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
In the Throes of Divorce
DAVID STRAKER
People who are in the process of separation in Leicestershire are being
offered a course run by the divorce court welfare staff. In its narrowest
context it is offered as a useful facility for people who are separating. In
a broader sense it is an expression of a fresh approach and is a major
response to the problem of those who are affected by family splitting.
FACTORS which have influenced the development of this course are varied.*
They include the increase in divorce. and the problems that most people
have in handling this change, together with the anachronism of over-
using an adversarial system in an area which calls for information, nego-
tiation and mediation. We are particularly conscious of the increase in
apparently irresolvable access problems. The Probation Service notices
that its own intervention has moved away from reconciliation and con-
ciliation into a massive reporting operation with limited resources on
errors compounded over the years and entrenched views. In recent years,
our intervention has been made later and tends to collude with the view
that courts and officials will sort it all out at the bitter end. Indeed, the
process almost assists in focussing conflict on the children and putting
resolution into the hands of people outside the family.
The course is not intended to replace the role of supervisor, counsellor,
divorce court welfare officer, legal adviser or court. It is, however, inten-
ded to make the task of people performing these roles easier. We believe
that this course offers its members useful information together with a
forum in which they can start to recognise. and come to terms with their
feelings thus opening up an opportunity to practice communication
together with an earlier chance to consider and understand the needs and
feelings of children.
_
Aim and design of the course
Our general aim is to make every effort to work with the adult part
rather than the child part of both parents. We do not wish to move
backwards and re-focus on the guilt of partners but we do wish to offer a
greater chance for &dquo;thought-through&dquo; as opposed to &dquo;fought-through&dquo;
solutions in a time of considerable strain. We aim to offer an earlier
opportunity for separating people to hold on to their self-esteem and
themselves cope with a stressful and changing situation with dignity. We
hope to allow some...
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