Children experiencing
a high conflict divorce, child custody hearings and the dissolution of the family structure will do better if the parents
help to reduce emotional trauma by preventing parent alienation through co-parenting sessions. Co-parenting exists with any
parenting arrangement, regardless of its formal designation. Time-limited co-parenting
services can help to avoid parental sabotage. To shift from dysfunctional dynamics to functional interpersonal dynamics is
planning agreements between the parents by having them attend sessions for:
v Cooperation
v Communication
v Compromise
v Consistency
Working with a high skilled
family therapist with expertise in mediating and maintaining neutral boundaries is primary in working with individuals in
high conflict divorces. The counseling goal is to ONLY focus on the importance
of their specific parental roles and NOT their relationship. Addressing and acknowledging both parent’s parental concerns
is significant to their child’s welfare, in terms of future emotional and interpersonal development.
Parent Alienation Syndrome:
Prevention of Parent Alienation
Syndrome is necessary. Addressing child custody disputes over child rearing is a means of avoiding the possibility of developing
Parent Child Alienation Syndrome. Children must not see themselves as collateral or as a pawn when parents disagree on how
their child is being raised in separate households. Co-parenting
Only sessions are to help the parents learn how to communicate and problem solve as co-parents only; not to be used as relationship
counseling.
Co-parenting only sessions
will help the children in coping with divorce and custody arrangements. Parents should be reminded that they will always be
their child’s basic role models, and that the affects from a high conflict divorce or child custody dispute yield the
child/children as the real loser/s. The child/children will be affected by their parents and how they parent their children
separately or together, emotionally or unemotionally. The most positive affects are found when both parents are involved in
the parenting process and are emotionally involved in the relationship they have with their child/children.
To help prevent the possibility of parent alienation syndrome, parents
are referred by either or both attorneys to seek short-term counseling services from a licensed family therapist who specializes
in high conflict divorce and child custody. The therapist must have expertise in Co-parenting counseling sessions only. One
must not refer clients to a therapist who takes sides with either parent. Co-parenting Only sessions are a minimum of 6-10
sessions. Therefore, depending on the case the therapist is to either encourage or inform both parties to seek professional
counseling for Co-parenting issues and NOT couples therapy. The Licensed Family therapist must remain neutral in order to
help the parents learn how to communicate and relate as co-parents only when it comes to child raising. Without it, the child
will suffer if they have to be the go-between two households.