One of the struggles of going through a divorce is the emotional toll it takes on your mental and physical health. For that reason, many people do decide to go into therapy during their divorce. It gives them an outlet where they can speak with someone about what they’re going through.
Some people believe that this could also help them during their divorce by having their psychologist or psychiatrist speak to the court. Of course, in cases of abuse, violence or situations where children are involved, having an expert in psychology on the case could help. However, your specific psychologist may not be the one to bring on board.
Working with experts to support your case
It is certainly reasonable to ask your psychologist to write up a document testifying about a specific event that they saw or heard about. They can give you documentation of any mental health issues you may or may not have if they come into question during the divorce, too. In other situations, it may be better to bring in a new psychiatrist or psychologist who has experience working in the court system, so that they are prepared to help you with your case.
For example, if you are arguing that you believe your spouse has been manipulating your children, you’d likely want to work with a mental health professional who has experience with working with children and abuse as well as someone who understands how their findings could impact a divorce case (like a forensic psychologist).
The court may order a psychological evaluation for you, your spouse or your children in some cases. In that case, it’s worth talking to your attorney about the different psychologists or psychiatric professionals who would be best suited to working with your case. The last thing you want to do is to work with an expert who doesn’t have experience in your situation, because they may not be as thorough or educated as they need to be to meet the court’s qualifications.
You don’t necessarily need a psychologist or psychiatrist for your divorce unless there is a major problem to do with mental health or abuse in the relationship. If you choose to bring one on board, it’s a good idea to look into your options and find someone familiar with family law.
