Reunification Therapy with Athena McCullough

A Healing Conversation

The process of reunification therapy is designed to build up to a positive interaction
between a non-time sharing parent and a child that results in a
healing conversation.

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The Process of Getting to that
Healing Conversation

The onslaught of emotions that are unleashed in a court ordered reunification case are intense and often overwhelming.
These emotions can range from intense anxiety and fear to overwhelming hope and excitement.

I am here to walk with you through this process. This is a process, not just an event.
I work with each member of the family involved to ensure that everyone is ready for that first joint meeting.

Assessment

The first step in the process is assessment.
During this time, I get to know you and all the parties involved in the process. I meet individually with each person to assess where they are, how they are feeling, and determine what work needs to be done. You also have a chance to get to know me.

Preparation

Next we move into the preparation phase. During this time, I work with the child and the non-time sharing parent separately to make sure that that first meeting is a positive one.

Depending on what the assessment revealed and the goals of the treatment plan, this preparation time is spent making sure that each member of the family is ready for that first meeting. The safety and well-being of the child is my primary concern.

The time sharing parent will learn how to support the child in engaging in this process. They will also learn how to separate their relationship with the other parent from their child's relationship with the other parent.
The child may be extremely fearful and anxious or they may be curious and even excited to see their parent again. If they are feeling worried, my job is to help them manage that anxiety, determine what they want to express to the non-time sharing parent, and keep them safe throughout this process.

The non-time sharing parent will learn how to engage with their child as they are now, not as they remember them to be. They will learn to hear what their child needs to tell them and be patient with this new relationship.

Joint Family Sessions

In this stage, the parent and child have the opportunity to have Healing Conversations. They can talk about what has happened in their relationship and explore what a new relationship might look like.

Our goal here is to help the child be able to express what they would like to express to the parent and to help the parent be emotionally available and able to hear what the child needs to express.

Progression

The joint sessions continue as the parent and child deepen their relationship with each other. How this relationship develops will depend on the people involved, the parenting plan, or further court orders. There may be a progression from therapeutic visits, to supervised visits, to unsupervised visits outside of the therapy office. At each stage of this progression the well-being of the child will be assessed and prioritized.

Completion

Continued monitoring of the visits may be needed for the newly reunited parent and child. These visits may progress to full days or over-nights. I remain available to the family to assess the progress of the relationship and the well-being of all involved. Reunification therapy usually concludes when the family has met their goals, the requirements of the parenting plan, or the court order.

My Experience

Just because a relationship is broken, doesn't mean that we throw it away. Being able to repair a relationship and experience a healing conversation is so vital, not only in our families, but also for all of our relationships. I am committed to not leaving families stuck in their current pattern. I will work to teach the skills necessary to bring people together.

I have completed training in Reunification Therapy with Jane Irvine, MA, LPC, Barbara Shindall, LCSW, and Karen Jamieson Darr, PhD. This training provided the tools and resources for me to guide my clients through this complex process. I work with attorneys and the courts to provide required reports. When requested, I also provide assessments for the court to determine whether or not reunification therapy should be recommended for a family.

The phrase "Healing Conversation" is specific to the training offered by Jane Irvine, MA, LPC, Barbara Shindall, LCSW, and Karen Jamieson Darr, PhD. More information on that training can be found at Reunification Therapy Education.

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Contact Info

Athena McCullough, MA, LPCC, NCC
athena@mcculloughfamilytherapy.com
720-257-9121

9200 W. Cross Drive, Suite 509
Littleton, CO 80123