Separation can be one of the most challenging and uncertain times in a person's life. Alongside practical questions about finances, children and the future, many people are also trying to come to terms with the meaning of this significant change on a personal and emotional level. Whilst legal advice provides clarity and direction, appropriate and timely emotional support is equally as important in helping individuals feel supported to be able to navigate the journey ahead.

With this in mind, we have developed our "Starting Out" collaboration alongside psychotherapist, Fiona Forsyth. Offered to those at the earliest stages or pre-stages of separation, it aims to help clients feel informed, supported and more confident about their next steps.

Reaching out

For many people, the hardest step can be reaching out in the first place. That first phone call or email to a solicitor may come at a moment of crisis and uncertainty or equally after a lengthy period of painful consideration. Whomever takes the decision to takes that first step even if it is a joint one, managing the emotional impact of the decision whilst trying to absorb the legal advice and raise the questions which you need answers in order to make informed decisions and choices, can understandably feel very overwhelming.

Seeking emotional support before your first meeting with a solicitor gives you a confidential space to start to explore difficult feelings and identify what matters to you the most. You are not under pressure to make a particular decision instead you have room with an objective therapist to express your immediate emotional worries and start to work out what your longer-term priorities might look like. Having this time to reflect may help you to articulate your concerns and formulate questions for your first meeting and so help you approach that meeting with greater clarity to be able to understand your legal position and the options available to you.

The first meeting

The first meeting with your solicitor is an opportunity for us to understand your circumstances, concerns and objectives. This enables us to provide tailored advice about your legal options, and the likely next steps.

Naturally, much of the discussion tends to focus on practical issues.  You will want to know where you stand, what you can expect, what the likely process involves and what decisions need to be made in the short term. However, this is rarely the sole focus of the meeting. Many clients arrive at their first appointment feeling overwhelmed, vulnerable and/or emotionally exhausted. Some are struggling to make decisions, while others are dealing with the uncertainty that comes with a major life change.

Seeking emotional support before a first meeting is not a pre-requisite but as trauma-informed solicitors we are sensitive to how first meetings can feel overwhelming and how difficult it can be to absorb information and to identify your objectives when you may be struggling with a gamut of emotions. If you have not already sought therapeutic support, we would invite you to consider a post-first meeting session.

A post-meeting therapy session, can give you space to start to process what the conversation brought up, giving you an opportunity to pause, reflect and explore what feels overwhelming and regain a sense of perspective before considering your next  steps. A therapist is not interpreting your legal advice but gives you space to start to separate understandable emotional responses from practical worries and supports you to clarify important issues and questions you wish to take back to your solicitor.

Additional considerations

We understand that every client’s experience is different. For some, the challenges they face may be compounded by additional vulnerabilities such as domestic abuse, coercive or controlling behaviour, mental health concerns or trauma.

These experiences can impact how a client engages with legal advice, copes with conflict and manages the practical demands of family proceedings. They can also impact a client's ability to absorb information and make decisions during what is already a highly stressful period.

Accessibility is also an important part of the process. We recognise that neurodivergent clients may have different communication preferences and ways of processing information, and we adapt our approach to meet individual needs.

A collaborative approach between solicitor and psychotherapist enables these additional needs to be recognised and explored and supported from an early stage. It creates an opportunity for clients to reflect on their circumstances, consider what support may be helpful and identify any adjustments that may assist them throughout the legal process.

Helping clients move forward with confidence

When people first contact a family solicitor, they are typically looking for clarity, reassurance and a sense of direction at a time when life feels uncertain. By addressing the legal aspects of separation and supporting you personally and emotionally alongside, we aim to help clients feel better informed, more supported and more confident in navigating the challenges ahead.

Whether you are considering separation, have recently separated, or are facing another family issue, "Starting Out" offers a safe and supportive space to share your story, understand your options and begin planning for the future.

You do notneed to have all the answers before seeking support. Sometimes the mostimportant step is simply knowing where to start.

Next steps

You can find a link to our website here – Burgess Mee. You can also call us on +44 (0)203 824 9950 or enquire via the webpage. We will then get in touch to organise a time for you to come into our offices or have a video call, whichever you prefer. If you would like support from Fiona, we will let her know and put you in touch so that way you can schedule your first meeting with us to follow your first therapy session.

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