When Dr. Aaron Welt was president of the Morris County Psychological Association, he organized two joint meetings with the Family Division of the Morris County Bar Association so that the two groups–the psychologists and the lawyers–could work together to discuss the relationship between the legal and the emotional sides of divorce.

“The idea was that the attorneys and the psychologists would work together to help clients manage the stress of separation and divorce,” he said.

Fast forward, and Dr. Welt is president of the New Jersey Collaborative Law Group, a non-profit that seeks to educate professionals and clients about Collaborative Divorce, a divorce concept that melds legal, mental health, and financial concerns and, most importantly, keeps families out of the courtroom.

Collaborative divorce, he says, allows attorneys, mental health professionals, and financial specialists to work together “as a team in a non-adversarial way to help find fair and creative divorce settlement solutions.”

Because the children know how parents feel about each other, he works with family members to minimize “lingering resentment,” which can “put children in the middle” and interfere with the ability to communicate, cooperate, and co-parent.

“Mental health professionals help people who are divorcing keep their heads clear and be creative and resourceful, which leads to fair settlements,” Dr. Welt said. “It’s important for people to feel that they are being heard and treated fairly. This way people can move forward in the most functional, balanced and thoughtful manner.”

His Mantra:  When the professionals and the parents work together for the benefit of the family, it will create a “healthy divorce.”  

The Details

• Graduated Magna Cum Laude from Seton Hall University where he was the recipient of the Psychology Medal.

• Earned Master’s degree and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from St. John’s University where he was appointed as a Teaching Fellow.

• He has been on staff at the Hoboken University Medical Center and the St. Mary’s Hospital in Passaic.

• Formerly served as president of the professional clinical staff at a large public hospital where he was a team leader and supervisor, and was commended for his leadership role in coordination of professional relationships with the Court.

Dr. Welt has been working in the field of psychology since 1969. He maintains a private psychotherapy practice for adolescents, adults, and elder care consultation, and specializes in family issues, particularly marriage and divorce counseling for couples and families.

He has completed advanced training in the cooperative/Collaborative Divorce approach and has spoken about these topics to various professional and lay audiences. In addition, he has organized regional conferences on advanced topics in the Collaborative Divorce process and divorce coaching, and on the “New Ways for Families” parenting skills and conflict resolution program.

When he is not touting the benefits of a kinder, gentler divorce, he can be seen bird watching or looking through a telescope at the planets.

Associations & Awards

• President, New Jersey Collaborative Law Group

• Past vice president, New Jersey Psychological Association Foundation

• Executive Board member, New Jersey Psychological Association

• Past President, Morris County Psychological Association

• New Jersey Psychological Association, Psychologist of the Year, 2015 

• Past Moderator, 1000-member electronic bulletin board Listserv of the New Jersey Psychological Association. 

• Dr. Welt has maintained an extensive program of continuing professional education, seeking to benefit his clients with the most current, effective and sensible approaches to very difficult family issues.