Navigating family law can be challenging for mental health professionals, even those with experience in divorce-related cases.

This interactive workshop is designed to bridge that knowledge gap, offering both newcomers and seasoned therapists a clear, practical overview of California Family Law as it relates to their work. Led by a psychologist-mediator and an attorney-mediator, participants will gain essential insights into the legal issues most commonly encountered by mental health providers – such as community property, custody arrangements, support obligations, the documentation of agreements, and general court requirements.

Through real-world examples and discussion, attendees will learn how family law impacts their roles as mediators, co-parent counselors, court-appointed therapists, and child therapists. The ultimate goal of this workshop is to empower mental health professionals to confidently engage in family law practice, fostering collaboration and understanding between legal and therapeutic disciplines.

Why This Training

Mental health professionals working with divorcing or separating families often find themselves navigating complex legal systems without formal training in family law. This can lead to uncertainty, confusion, and missed opportunities to best support clients. This workshop helps therapists and related professionals bridge that gap, offering a clear, practical understanding of California Family Law as it intersects with their clinical work.

Participants will learn how legal frameworks influence the roles of mediators, co-parent counselors, child therapists, and court-involved professionals. With a focus on real-world application, this training empowers therapists to engage confidently and ethically in family law contexts.

What You’ll Learn

Using real cases, discussion, and applied examples, this workshop will help participants:

• Understand the structure of the California family law system
• Identify how property division, custody, and support obligations impact therapeutic work
• Gain clarity on how to document agreements and interface with the court system
• Learn the boundaries and ethical considerations for mental health professionals in legal matters
• Increase confidence in roles such as mediator, co-parent counselor, or court-appointed therapist
• Build collaborative bridges with legal professionals while maintaining clinical integrity

Who Should Attend

This training is for therapists, counselors, psychologists, and other mental health professionals working with families navigating divorce, custody disputes, and other family law-related challenges.

• Co-parenting counselors will gain a framework for how custody and parenting plans are structured, helping them guide families within realistic legal boundaries.
• Child therapists and evaluators will develop a deeper understanding of court expectations and documentation protocols, especially when serving in court-appointed or consulting roles.
• Mediators and collaborative professionals will benefit from the presenters’ integrative approach that honors both psychological and legal perspectives, creating space for more durable and child-centered outcomes.
• Newer professionals will leave with a foundational orientation, while seasoned clinicians will deepen their understanding and clarify the limits and possibilities of their roles in legal processes.

Why It Matters

Mental health professionals are often a critical part of the support system during divorce and custody disputes – but without legal fluency, their contributions can be undermined or misunderstood. This training helps ensure that therapists can:

• Collaborate more effectively with attorneys and the courts
• Reduce ethical risk and confusion in their practice
• Support clients with informed, grounded guidance
• Improve outcomes for children and families in transition

Participants will leave with knowledge that is immediately applicable in their work – whether in therapy, mediation, or consultation – and a stronger foundation for navigating the increasingly interdisciplinary world of family conflict.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Recognize core components of California Family Law relevant to property division, custody, and support
• Understand their professional role within legal contexts – including when and how to participate ethically in mediation, court appointments, or as part of collaborative teams
• Identify legal issues most likely to arise in their work with divorcing or separating families
• Communicate more effectively with attorneys, judges, and clients around legal matters
• Reduce risk of overstepping legal boundaries while remaining a strong advocate for client wellbeing

Format & Details

Date & Time: Friday, May 15, 2026 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Location: Live Online (Zoom)

Cost: $150

About the Center

The Center for Understanding in Conflict pioneered understanding-based mediation and is one of the first and only nonprofit conflict resolution training organizations worldwide.

Since 1982, the Center has trained more than 10,000 professionals worldwide, including leaders from the Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation, Intel Corporation, Roche, SAP and the World Intellectual Property Organization. Our approach is rooted in real-world practice, human connection, and the belief that conflict can be a doorway to transformation.

Presenters

Stacey Shuster, Ph.D. is a psychologist-mediator in private practice in the Bay Area. Trained as a couple, family, and child therapist, she has taught Family Therapy in various graduate programs, including the Department of Psychiatry at California Pacific Medical Center. Stacey supports separating and divorcing families as a mediator, co-parent counselor, and divorce coach. A frequent national presenter, she offers consultation on same-sex divorce, co-parenting challenges, and Integrative Mediation to attorneys and mental health professionals.

Paula M. Lawhon, J.D. is a Certified Family Law Specialist and full-time family law mediator based in Marin County. With over 20 years of experience mediating family law cases and a background in civil and family litigation, Paula brings deep legal knowledge and a collaborative spirit to her work. She earned her J.D. from UC Law San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings) in 1999 and her B.A. from UC Irvine in 1996, graduating cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. Paula regularly presents and writes on family law mediation and integrative dispute resolution models.

Additional Notes

Registrations received fewer than 72 hours before the program will be accepted at the discretion of the training team due to role-play and logistics needs.

For questions, contact us at [email protected]

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