what we do
approach
Our work is collaborative, family-led, and cost-effective, aiming to help families move forward in a respectful and constructive way.
Gardner Wildblood LLP offers a psychologically informed, non-court approach to resolving family disputes, and our method brings several unique and meaningful benefits:
Child-Centred Focus
Our approach prioritises the welfare of children, ensuring that decisions are made with their emotional and developmental needs in mind. This helps reduce the long-term impact of family breakdown on children.
Psychological Insight
With Dr. Freda Gardner’s background as a clinical psychologist, the process is informed by a deep understanding of family dynamics, trauma, and emotional well-being. This helps families navigate conflict in a more supportive and constructive way.
Avoids Court Stress
By resolving disputes outside of court, families avoid the stress, cost, and adversarial nature of litigation. This can lead to quicker resolutions and less emotional strain for everyone involved.
Tailored and Flexible
Our services are customised to each family’s needs, whether the issue involves child arrangements, financial matters, or communication breakdowns. This flexibility allows for more creative and sustainable solutions.
Preserves Relationships
The non-adversarial nature of the process helps preserve co-parenting relationships and reduce hostility, which is especially important when children are involved.
Legally Sound Outcomes
We also offer arbitration, where a legally binding decision can be made by an experienced arbitrator (Stephen Wildblood KC), providing a structured alternative to court when needed.
Gardner Wildblood’s approach is ideal for families who want to resolve disputes respectfully, protect children’s well-being, and avoid the emotional and financial toll of court. Traditional court may still be necessary in high-conflict or legally complex cases, but it’s seen as a last resort.
the process
Our general process is outlined below, however we recognise that every situation is unique so we offer a bespoke and tailored approach, based on your individual circumstance.
Following an initial enquiry, we ask that further information is sent to us in the form of a short, written summary of the issues that are being faced. This doesn’t need to be long but should give us a good understanding of why you have contacted us.
After we have received this, we will consider the information, and whether we think we are able to assist.
If we think that we may be able to help, then we will first ask for confirmation that both parties are willing to engage in the process (an email confirming from each party is sufficient), as we cannot proceed without this.
If both parties wish to engage in the process, then the next stage is to arrange a preliminary meeting with the adults concerned, in order to discuss the services that we offer. The meeting will:
Take place in person or via MS teams.
It will last for approximately 1-1.5 hours.
It will be attended by Dr Gardner and Stephen Wildblood KC.
Can be joint or individual depending on the circumstances.
If all of the adults are legally represented and agree, we would be prepared, after specific agreement with us, for their legal representatives to attend with them at that preliminary meeting.
During the preliminary meeting, amongst other things, we will ask the parties to confirm that there are no significant safeguarding issues affecting the children. We will discuss that our work will be treated by everyone as confidential and that there will be full and frank disclosure of all relevant information relating to the children.
We will also enquire whether the parties would intend that their legal representatives (if any) should be present during the sessions and also how a note / record is to be made of the discussions.
After the Preliminary Meeting Dr Gardner and Stephen Wildblood KC will consider whether Gardner Wildblood LLP can offer their services and we will let you know the outcome of our discussions, and whether we are able to help as soon as we can.
We must then receive written confirmation from both parties that they wish to engage in the process.
At this stage, we will discuss what our plan of work might look like, how many sessions there might be, and the associated costs.