I PROVIDE SEVERAL SERVICES FOR CHILDREN INVOLVED IN DIVORCED OR DIVORCING FAMILIES,

1. Play therapy is often a very helpful process for children who are experiencing the effects of divorce. For this purpose, I work in standard play or talking therapy ways, with an emphasis on the issues related to divorce. To facilitate this work, I have several games which are specifically designed to help children articulate and process their feelings and ideas about divorce. Standard techniques (described in Play and Play therapy) are also useful in this work.

2. I am often able to help parents, in the midst of divorce or after it is completed, to understand their children’s reactions, behaviors, and feelings, and to help the parents effectively meet the needs of the children that are being expressed- or, at times, lie under the surface and should be addressed so as to free up the child’s path to healthy development. This can be in terms of understanding their child’s development, providing proper support, or, should the need become evident, making changes in arrangements as the child’s response to them becomes apparent. 

3. I am a member of both the Santa Fe and the New Mexico Collaborative Practice organizations, which work to facilitate the use of a non-adversarial process called Collaborative Divorce. This is a method by which families resolve all divorce concerns through a collaborative process, without resorting to litigation and costly court involvement. In the role of Child Advocate within this collaborative process, I have developed a clinical approach to helping parents use their children’s wishes and ideas in their parenting plans and child-centered strategies as they move toward divorce. 

The essential elements of Collaborative Divorce, as practiced by attorneys and all other professionals who participate in the process, include:

(1) a commitment by all the professionals and parties to negotiate from the outset of a case, with a contractual agreement not to litigate the case,

(2) use of interest-based negotiation,

(3) participation of parties and professionals in face-to-face meetings, and

(4) participation of professionals in local groups to develop shared procedures and culture. Please go to the page, “Divorce Resource Services”, for further information on this process and my role in collaborative divorce.