Co-Parenting Therapy
Coparenting Therapy Has Separation Or Divorce Made Parenting Messy And Complicated?
Do you get tired of sharing parenting responsibilities with your former partner? Have personal feelings related to your separation impacted your ability to care for your child? Does living in separate homes makes healthy communication seem impossible?
Divorce or separation can be hard enough, but when there is a child (or children) involved, all the anger and bitterness are cranked up to full volume. As much as you probably wish you never had to speak with your ex again, the fact that you have a child together means you have no choice. But because neither of you can communicate peacefully or agree on basic parenting goals, your child may not have a healthy and stable environment to grow up in. On the other hand, maybe co-parenting was going smoothly, but then your ex met someone else—now they have a new spouse or partner. All the old wounds have reopened and your parenting situation is fraught with new tensions. Now, whenever you argue with your ex about parental strategies, you have to reckon with their partner, too.
Although the relationship with your ex is messy, deep down, you both want what is best for your child. This requires you to put aside personal feelings and work together. Here at Compass Psych Service, our goal is to help you and your ex diffuse conflict, learn new communication skills, and create a peaceful and stable environment for your child to grow up in.
Reunification Therapy
If you and your children have been separated for a time due to divorce, deployment, jail time, or other reason, you may notice that it can be a bumpy transition on the way back to "normal." Often, parents and children have symptoms similar to PTSD or trauma- attachment concerns after being apart from each other.
Sometimes, Reunification Therapy is ordered by the Court. This may happen in cases of high conflict divorce, domestic violence, substance use or court involvement. Please note that in cases of Court ordered Therapy, confidentiality is limited- meaning the Therapist will be required to submit a report on participation and progress.
Reunification Therapy isn't a specific "type" of therapy, per se. It is a construct (an idea or theory) based on a variety of theories and therapies, applied specifically to a family whose members have spent time apart. The goals of therapy are different for each family, but typically involve...
- processing feelings related to the distance (absence) and reintroduction
- introducing or reintroducing a parent (or parents) and child/ren
- reinforcing the parent/s-child/ren relationship
- creating or strengthening the attachment bond
- facilitating safe and secure interactions
- learning effective, positive parenting techniques
Therapy can be provided in a variety of modalities for parents, children and/or the family unit to address issues related to separation anxiety, behavioral concerns, trauma recovery, effective parenting skills, attachment and conflict resolution. Co-parenting skills may also be explored, depending upon goals and circumstances.
Additional services may include communication with social workers, attorneys, school personnel and/or other individuals involved with the process, and preparation of a Summary of Service for Court.