Reunification Therapy

Divorce can be a difficult time for a family regardless of the circumstances.  When the divorce is one of high-conflict, a court may order reunification therapy or reunification counseling. Reunification therapy or counseling is a form of family counseling, where the emphasis is placed on re-establishing a healthy relationship between the child/children and parents. It is intended to guide a parent or parents and a child to reunify and connect after divorce or legal custody challenges.

During reunification therapy or counseling, the counselor is focused on promoting healthy, productive communication between the parent and child and highlighting the natural connection that exists between the two.

Both parenst also work with the counselor to address any long-standing emotional issues that need to be resolved in order for complete healing to take place.

Reunification therapy or reunifcation counseling occurs in combination with individual counseling.  In some cases, the counselor may work with both parents individually, as well as with the child/children individually. 

The ultimate goal of reunification counseling is to bridge the gap between distant parents and children, and to prevent serious issues in the future.  Reunification therapy can be very helpful to both parents and children in the process of developing better communication skills when interacting with each other and help them both to engage in transparent, healthy behaviors. The goal is to re-establish trust between the parent and child so allowing therapy to occur at the child’s pace is essential.

In summary, reunification therapy or reunification counseling is a form of family therapy usually court-ordered in high-conflic divorce cases. It is helpful to both parents and children as it empasizes attachment, promotes healthy communication, and works to heal injuries in the relationship.

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If you are interested in learning more about how our practice can assist you, or for any questions related to reunification therapy please contact us today.