The parents agree that the objective of the family therapy intervention is not to determine IF it is in the child(ren)’s best interests to have contact with one of the parents. Rather, the parents agree that it is in the child(ren)’s best interests to have meaningful relationships with both parents. The multi-day intervention is intended to help the child(ren) have a meaningful relationship with both parents. The Multi-Day Family Intervention includes the intervention and treatment occurring over a weekend, and sometimes extending into the Friday or Monday. It involves carrying dyads and triads of the family working together toward the reconciliation of a relationship between an estranged parent and a child or children. There are individual and joint therapy sessions, as well as opportunities for connection during recreationally time. But the work occurs intensively over only a few days. It is sometimes requested that this intervention take place in collaboration with a holiday. During this time, the treatment team would attend with the identified family members and carry out the same process in the identified location.
There are individual and joint therapy sessions, as well as opportunities for connection during recreational time.
While the parents may have different views about the cause and reasons for the child(ren)’s refusal or reluctance to have contact with one parent, they agree not only to the objectives defined above, but also that they each need to be a part of the solution to meet those objectives.