A couples counseling has resulted in a decision by my clients to dissolve their dysfunctional marriage. They also decide to quit counseling and have decided to go further with the divorce. The wife calls me a week later and asks me to serve as a witness on her behalf in their upcoming child custody dispute.
Let’s say I assume that I do think that the wife would be the better parent, to state both side of the clients in a distinctive manner and as a human service professional that has been counseling this couple, I believe that in my judgment to reason as their marriage counselor I would have remained unbias. I would remain unbiased in my statement to the court while also being as truthful as possible regarding the circumstances. Since both parties agreed to end their marruage, the failure belongs to both the husband and wife. However if I knew based on my judgment to reason that the mother were a better fit to have full custody, I would state positives of both clients in traits and behavior conducive to raising a child. Should the court find that the results of the counseling sessions were not evidence to who gets custody of the child then I would have respect and trust the courts decision because every parent deserves a chance to be a good parent to their kids. Moreover, if I knew that the husband was not fit to have full custody of the kids I would have stated any information that would support the wife to get full custody of their child based on the time spent with the couple in our counseling sessions.
Due to the fact that they were clients, to my understanding it is best to be objective and state pros and cons traits of both parents. That way the prosecutor and defense would have unbiased statement regarding therapy. Unbiased witnesses prove more credible to the judge and jury.