Qualitative Assessment of the Efficiency of Pre-Divorce counseling: A Study on the Second Chapter of the Family Support Law Based on the clients’ Perspectives on Counseling Centers in Alborz province.

The legislator, by instituting pre-divorce counseling, aimed to address unnecessary divorces under the second chapter of the Family Support Law in 2013. This paper presents a qualitative assessment of the effectiveness of this counseling based on the perspectives of couples who have undergone all stages of pre-divorce counseling. The research methodology employed phenomenology, with thematic analysis is used to analyze the interviews. The fifteen interviewees were residents of Alborz province, selected through purposive sampling. Six main themes emerged from the interview analysis: the provision of necessary solutions by the counselor, fostering compromise and continuity in marital life, seeking legal and social guidance from counselors, the impactful nature of timely counseling, the lack of effectiveness of counseling sessions in fostering compromise, and the drawbacks of the current pre-divorce counseling process. The interviewees generally unanimous in their expectation from the counseling that the counselor can create a compromise between couples, however, their attitudes toward the effectiveness of current counseling indicate dissatisfaction. This lack of satisfaction encompasses different dimensions, including the heavy costs of consultation fees and the lack of government coverage, the inappropriate timing of counseling sessions, some counselors underestimating the importance of family consolidation, and insufficient efforts to mend couples' relationships. Additionally, interviewees noted a lack of adequate expertise and experience among counselors, along with gender biases exhibited by some counselors. This research suggests a revision of the second chapter of the Family Support Law to align with the legislator's goal and eliminate the disadvantages of the current shortcomings, ultimately enhancing the efficacy of mandatory pre-divorce counseling for couples.