I am new to Collaborative Law and am acting as a Child Specialist in a
case. I am enjoying the work very much, and find myself thinking
about the role that I am playing as Child Specialist. I am wondering
what different models people are using for the role of Child
Specialist. How much do you act as a consultant to the parents and
the team, and how much do you work with a child/children individually
to support them through the process? Are there differences between
what the Child Specialist does and time limited work that a child
therapist might do in a divorce case with a child and parents, aside
from confidentiality, which would usually be greater in therapy? I am
sure that different cases require different kinds of responses, but in
the case I am working on presently there are significant similarities
between what I am doing as a Child Specialist and what I would be
doing with the child and the parents if they had been referred to me
for therapy around divorce related issues. I am in much more contact
with the attorneys than I would be if I were acting as the child's
therapist, but the way I am talking to the child and parents is pretty
similar to what I do in therapy. I would be very interested in
feedback from members of this group, or in any books or articles that
address these issues. Thanks! Ellen Nakhnikian, psychologist
