Child Consultation
A dedicated consultation that brings children's perspectives directly into mediation.
What this service is
Child consultation is a focused service for parents working towards agreement through family dispute resolution (mediation) who want their children's perspectives properly reflected in that process. Trea meets with the children and talks with them about their experiences, concerns and preferences. She then provides parents and their solicitors with feedback about the children's perspectives, together with guidance on whether the proposed arrangements are developmentally appropriate for each child.
This work often requires examining assumptions that may appear fair from an adult perspective but may not meet a particular child's needs. Trea's role is to help parents and solicitors consider how proposed arrangements are likely to be experienced by the children. This helps ensure that decisions are informed by the children's developmental needs as well as adult perceptions of fairness.
Who it's for
Parents and their solicitors involved in family dispute resolution who want their children's perspectives genuinely considered, rather than assumed, when working towards an agreement.
When it's typically used
Child consultation is generally used as part of mediation, whether mediation occurs within the court system or privately. It complements rather than replaces the legal process, giving parents and solicitors a clearer, child-informed basis for the arrangements they are considering.
The Process
3. Feedback into mediation
Trea shares the children's perspectives with both parents and their solicitors. She also provides her professional view on whether the proposed arrangements are developmentally appropriate for each child and why. Unlike a formal assessment, child consultation is confidential: the feedback is not recorded in a formal report and is not intended for use as evidence in court. Confidentiality remains subject to any legal or professional obligations, including where child-safety concerns require action or reporting.
4. Scope of the consultation
Child consultation is typically a single, self-contained process. Trea meets with the children, provides parents and solicitors with feedback on the children's perspectives and developmental needs, and the consultation then concludes.
1. Engagement
Solicitors or a family dispute resolution practitioner engage Trea to provide a child consultation as part of a planned or ongoing mediation.
2. Meeting the children
Trea meets with the children separately from the mediation. She explains who she is, why she is meeting with them, how their views may be shared and how those views will be used. Children decide how much or how little they wish to share.
FAQs
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Yes. This is an important distinction between child consultation and Trea's assessment work. Feedback provided during child-inclusive dispute resolution is not recorded in a formal report and is not intended for use as evidence in court. Confidentiality remains subject to any legal or professional obligations that arise if there are concerns about a child's safety.
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No. Children are invited, never required. Trea explains to them who she is and why they're talking, and each child decides whether to participate and how much to share. That choice is theirs at every step.
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No. This process exists to inform the mediation, not the courtroom. What your child shares helps you and your former partner make better decisions together; it doesn't become evidence.