Services for Families in Conflict

• Parents in conflict – Private Law Proceedings
• Therapy following Court Proceedings
• Assessments for Courts
• Child Care Cases in Public Law

Parents in Conflict - Private Law Proceedings

We offer expertise in the assessment of the impact on children of enduring parental dispute and high conflict following divorce or separation. Typically this involves conflict regarding contact or residence of the children.

Often such situations occur when less intense forms of intervention, such as mediation, have not been successful and when one or both parents have used the Court system over a protracted period of time. We can be helpful to the Courts in making decisions regarding ongoing contact with the non-resident parent and in helping parents to understand the needs of the children.

Our approach is culturally sensitive and aims to avoid continuing conflict. We use parent coaching and other reflective methods to help individuals minimise conflict and focus on the needs of the children, while developing conflict resolution skills.

Therapy following Court Proceedings

The Institute offers a range of therapeutic services to families, couples and individuals following court proceedings. Where proceedings are adjourned we can provide a ‘trial of treatment’ to test the possibilities for long term change.

We can be commissioned by local authorities to provide therapy where families are to be rehabilitated or where permanent separation is recommended.

Assessments for Court

Here at the Institute we have a number of experienced practitioners who are able to undertake a variety of assessments regarding children and families as detailed below.

Our assessments are culturally attuned and where possible we aim to provide a skilled practitioner from the clients’ culture of origin.

Assessments normally take 12 to 16 weeks from the point of agreement about the work to be undertaken. All of our assessments are undertaken by appropriately qualified, skilled and experienced Family Therapists.

Child Care Cases in Public Law

At the Institute we provide comprehensive assessments which incorporate the following:

• Cultural understanding of parents’ motivations and aspirations.
• The wishes and feelings of the children in all their complexity
• Assessments of attachment, including the impact of separation and loss.
• An understanding of family dynamics and relationships
• Identification of family strengths and resilience
• Parenting ability and possibilities for change
• The impact of abuse and neglect of all types
• The child’s needs based on their age and stage of development.
• Issues which may affect the interface of the family with wider systems.
• Building on conflict resolution skills
• An approach which is sensitive to the ways in which children communicate and which aims to make the process and helpful one for them 
  
  

For further information please contact Andie Barlow