SUPPORTING CHILDREN WHEN PARENTS SEPARATE OR DIVORCE
PRESENTED BY Tara Egan, LCMHC, D.ED. and Jerry Dye, LCMHCA, M.A., M.Ed.
1 CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT
BASE is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. BASE maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
DESCRIPTION
When working with children of divorced parents, the issue of high-conflict divorce (HCD) is frequently a factor in the therapeutic process (Eddy, 2016; Berman & Weisinger, 2022; Shaw & Geffner, 2022 ). It is essential that therapists whose clients are involved in a HCD understand the characteristics of this phenomenon so they can be responsive to the specific needs exhibited from both children and their parents. While there is awareness of the high-conflict divorce, therapists working with children of divorced parents may benefit by knowledge of what behavioral characteristics may be present in the parents involved in these cases. Divorce is a stress-inducing and emotional time, and parents may struggle to engage with effective emotional regulation and conflict resolution, creating a dynamic that can have a negative impact on the children. Recent research has focused on the concept of “high-conflict people”, as drivers of the high-conflict divorce, with emphasis on how these people present in a divorce (Eddy, 2016). Researchers are also getting a clearer picture of how the dynamics of high-conflict parents impact the emotional well-being of children involved (O’Hara et al., 2022; Or Shavit et al., 2022; Pruett et al., 2023). In some situations, post-separation abuse may be prevalent, and therapists should be able to recognize these characteristics and respond appropriately (Berman & Weisinger, 2022; Gutowski & Goodman, 2023). This course is designed to offer clinicians additional background into specific characteristics of high-conflict parents, as they present in clinical settings. Participants will be presented with strategies to minimize conflict in communications between co-parents (Eddy, 2011; Eddy et.al., 2020), promote effective, autonomous relationships between each co-parent and child, as well as common sense strategies to offer co-parents in setting effective boundaries and discipline with their children (Rodman, 2015; Eddy, 2020).
LEARNING OBJECTIONS
Based on the content of this workshop, you will be able to:
·Identify characteristic behaviors of co-parents involved in a high-conflict divorce and apply effective interventions to minimize the effects of these behaviors on children who are involved.
·Recognize characteristics and presence of post-separation abuse, and understand how it may limit the potential of a healthy co-parenting relationship.
·Apply the latest research to understand the impact high-conflict divorce can have on children and their relationships with their parents, specifically what is noted in clinical practice (i.e., sadness, divided loyalties, rejection of a parent, etc.).
·Utilize effective communication strategies with both co-parents during the course of clinical treatment, to minimize conflict and reinforce the idea that divorced parents are not obligated to be emotionally responsive to each other in the same way romantically involved partners should be.
·Apply common sense discipline strategies for both co-parents to use, to promote effective and healthy boundaries for their children, while fostering effective communication between children and each co-parent.
AUDIENCE
This program is appropriate for licensed psychologists and other mental health practitioners who offer therapeutic services to children whose parents are divorcing and their families. Training is at an introductory level.
RESOURCES
Berman, P., & Weisinger, E. (2022). Parental alienation vs coercive control: Controversial issues and current research. Journal of Family Trauma, Child Custody & Child Development, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/26904586.2022.2125475
Eddy, W. A. (2011). BIFF: quick responses to high conflict people: their personal attacks, hostile email and social media meltdowns. Hci Press.
Eddy, W. A. (2016). High conflict people in legal disputes. Unhooked Books.
Eddy, W. A. (2020). Don’t alienate the kids!: raising resilient children while avoiding high-conflict divorce. High Conflict Institute, Llc.
Eddy, W. A., Burns, A., & Chafin, K. (2020). BIFF for co parent communication: your guide to difficult texts, emails and social media posts. Unhooked Books, An Imprint Of High Conflict Institute Press.
Gutowski, E.R., Goodman, L.A. (2023). Coercive Control in the Courtroom: the Legal Abuse Scale (LAS). Journal of Family Violence, 38, 527–542. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-022-00408-3
O′Hara, K. L., Boring, J. L., Sandler, I. N., & Beck, C. J. (2022). Enhancing daily affect in youth experiencing high‐conflict parental divorce: A multiple baseline trial of an online prevention program. Family Court Review, 60(3), 458–473. https://doi.org/10.1111/fcre.12654
Or Sharvit, Z., Sorek, Y., & Honigman, I. (2022). Parenting coordination – outcome measurement and prediction: Implications for research and practice. Family Court Review, 61(1), 135–156. https://doi.org/10.1111/fcre.12688
Pruett, M.K., Johnston, J. R., Saini, M., Sullivan, M., & Salem, P. (2023). The use of parental alienation constructs by family justice system professionals: A survey of belief systems and practice implications. Family Court Review, 61(2), 372–394. https://doi.org/10.1111/fcre.12716
Rodman, S. (2015). How to talk to your kids about your divorce. Adams Media.
Shaw, M., & Geffner, R. (2022). Alienation and reunification issues in family courts: Theory, research, and programs in child custody cases. Journal of Family Trauma, Child Custody & Child Development, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/26904586.2022.2151145
PROFESSIONAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES
There is no commercial support for this CE program, instructor, content of instruction, or any other relationship that could be construed as a conflict of interest. There is no endorsement of products.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Cancellations will be accepted and payments refunded in full up to two (2) weeks prior to any training event. Following two weeks prior to the event, a credit for future trainings matching the amount already paid for that event’s registration will be given to registrants who cancel their registration, for whatever reason, up to two (2) days prior to the event date. This credit can only be applied to one future training, regardless of its cost. If the cost of the future training is less than the amount paid, the difference will be lost. If the cost of the future training is greater than the credit, then the balance will become due at registration time. If a registrant cancels or no-shows within two days of the event date, a refund will not be given.
LOCATION
BASE Office: 1515 Mockingbird Lane, Suite 580, Charlotte, NC 28209
ACCESSIBILITY
BASE strives to ensure that each CE program is accessible to all participants. If you would like any accommodations, please contact us at 704-910-8381.
QUESTIONS
Please contact us at info@findyourbase.com or 704-910-8381 if you have any questions or grievances about the program.
WAITLIST
If this program is full, please email us at info@findyourbase.com to indicate your interest. If someone cancels we will contact you.