SEPERATION & DIVORCE
Our psychologists specialize in forensic approaches and are recognized by the Court as Parenting Experts. With their extensive training and experience, they are equipped to assist the Court in determining what is in the best interest of the child during separation and divorce cases. Their involvement ensures that decisions are made based on professional and objective evaluations, prioritizing the child’s welfare above all.
Therapeutic Interventions
Therapeutic Interventions aim to assist families in navigating conflict and fostering positive change within the family structure. These interventions focus on healing and rebuilding relationships to create a healthier environment for the child. Examples of therapeutic interventions include:
Individual therapy for one parent to address personal challenges affecting their parenting.
Joint therapy for both parents to improve communication and collaboration.
Therapy for the child to support their emotional and mental health.
Family therapy to address broader family dynamics and improve overall harmony.
Parent-child reunification therapy to rebuild and strengthen the bond between estranged parents and their child.
PRACTICE NOTE 7 INTERVENTIONS
Our Practice Note 7 interventions are designed to provide comprehensive support and guidance in cases involving child custody, access, and family conflict. These interventions are divided into two primary categories:
Evaluative Interventions
Evaluative Interventions are focused on delivering crucial information to the Court to aid in making decisions that serve the child’s best interests. These interventions provide insights into the family dynamic and specific needs of the child. Key services include:
Voice of the Child(ren): A process to ensure that the child’s perspective and preferences are heard and considered.
Triage: A preliminary assessment to identify the most urgent needs within the family.
Parent Psychological Evaluation: An in-depth assessment of a parent’s psychological health and its impact on their parenting abilities.
Child/Adolescent Psychological Evaluation: A thorough evaluation of the child’s or adolescent’s mental and emotional well-being.
Focused Assessment: Targeted evaluations addressing specific areas of concern as identified by the Court.
Risk Assessment: Evaluations that identify and mitigate potential risks to the child’s safety or emotional well-being.
PRACTICE NOTE 8 INTERVENTIONS
When other interventions have proven unsuccessful, our Practice Note 8 interventions provide a comprehensive and objective parenting assessment. These assessments are designed to address complex family situations and offer the Court detailed recommendations.
Parenting Experts offer expert opinion evidence to the Court on ultimate issues such as:
Determining appropriate parenting time and schedules that prioritize the child’s needs.
Decision-making authority and responsibility for key aspects of the child’s upbringing, such as education, healthcare, and extracurricular activities.
Parental responsibilities and roles in ensuring the child’s safety, stability, and overall well-being.
These assessments are thorough and grounded in evidence, ensuring that the recommendations presented to the Court are both practical and in the child’s best interest.
ALTERNATE DISPUTE RESOLUTIONS
When families seek to avoid prolonged litigation, we offer alternate dispute resolution services that encourage collaboration and mutual agreement. These options provide a less adversarial approach to resolving conflicts, often resulting in faster and more amicable outcomes. Our services include:
Mediation: Facilitated discussions between parties to reach a mutually acceptable agreement on parenting and other issues.
Parenting Coordination: A structured process to help parents resolve day-to-day disputes while maintaining focus on the child’s needs.
Arbitration: A private and binding resolution process where an impartial arbitrator makes decisions on unresolved issues.
OTHER SERVICES
In addition to our core interventions and dispute resolution services, we offer a range of other supports tailored to meet the unique needs of families during separation and divorce. These include:
Litigation Support: Expert testimony, assessments, and reports to support your case in Court proceedings.
Parent Coaching: Personalized coaching sessions to help parents navigate the challenges of co-parenting and improve their skills.
Co-parenting Counselling: Guidance and strategies to help separated parents work together effectively for the benefit of their child.
Post-separation/divorce Counselling: Emotional and psychological support for individuals coping with the aftermath of separation or divorce.
Individual Counselling: Sessions for children, adolescents, and adults to address mental health challenges, build resilience, and improve emotional well-being.
Family Counselling: Collaborative therapy to help families rebuild relationships, resolve conflicts, and foster a supportive environment.
Our goal is to ensure that every family receives the support and guidance they need to navigate the complex and emotionally challenging process of separation and divorce. Whether through evaluations, therapy, or dispute resolution, we are committed to helping families achieve the best possible outcomes for their children.