Family therapy with families in intractable conflicts about child custody and visitation

Abstract

Divorce is almost always difficult. Further complications arise when issues concerning child custody and visitation are added. Working with these families can be particularly delicate and difficult because of the myriad circumstances and issues they bring into therapy. Nonetheless, intervention can play a significant role to ease the divorce process. Currently, there are three major methods of dealing with divorcing families: Prevention programs, mediation, and divorce therapy. Most families are able to navigate the divorce process with relatively low-intensity interventions in the context of prevention programs, such as psychoeducation, which aims to help families understand the divorce process. In mediation, the marital partners negotiate points of difference regarding child custody and visitation, as well as finances. Many families restructure after divorcing successfully with little help; for most of those who have more difficulty, psychoeducation programs and mediation are usually sufficient to navigate the divorce process.