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Post-Divorce Conflict Intervention Program
PHILOSOPHY
Post-divorce conflict over child custody and finances has certain defining characteristics. These characteristics are consistent with an understanding of the Family Life Cycle. When couples divorce they ideally move from the marital stage of the life cycle to a post divorce stage that still involves co-parenting. Typically this transition is stormy and takes years. This transition can also go unresolved and the couple can continue to fight and disagree in much the same manner as they did when their marriage was deteriorating. These continued disagreements about the children and money have the flavor of a marital dispute rather than a conflict involving post-divorce co-parenting.
Our goal at the Michigan Family Institute is to help parents stop the conflict before it does further damage to already difficult relationships, including relationships with the children who may be caught in the middle. Children need both of their parents to make their lives whole.
PROCESS
The Michigan Family Institute's Post-Divorce Conflict Intervention Program focuses on isolating the co-parenting dilemmas from the marital concerns. We settle the marital concerns separately, then help the parents move completely into the co-parenting stage of the life cycle where they aren't confusing their anger at each other from the marriage with their judgment about their children. The focus is heavily on both parties demonstrating their benevolence rather than acting out their anger. This is a brief therapy approach which usually resolves the dilemma within ten sessions or less.
We are committed to...
- Coordinating closely with the court
- Working with families to meet specific goals
- Helping the family to break the cycle of mutual intimidation
- Finding creative solutions to difficult situations
OUR COACHING SERVICES INCLUDE
Developing- Positive Communication skills
- Joint problem solving skills
- The skills necessary for the transition to a post-divorce family life-style
- Awareness of the developmental needs of children
Learning
- How to exchange children w/o intimidating the other parent
- How to talk to children about their other parent so they are not caught in the middle or have to choose sides
- How to let go of hostility which clouds judgment
- New methods of self control and cooperation
INTERVENTION SERVICES INCLUDE
- Reuniting estranged parents and children
- Facilitation of supervised visitation with estranged parents
- Parenting Time Coordination
- Special Master/Binding Arbitration
- Negotiating custody and co-parenting agreements
- Family Therapy
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