A court considers a wide range of issues before deciding on child custody as part of a divorce order. The law mandates that the parental rights of both parents be honored, even though the court will usually make an effort to comply with the wishes of any child old enough to express them. This may result in child custody rules that a youngster finds undesirable and declines to comply with.
In legal terms, the divorce decree obligates the parents and all other parties involved. However, courts often hesitate to penalize a kid who disagrees with custody agreements after a divorce. Since the court lacks information on the parents’ previous relationships, it is reluctant to penalize a kid if, for example, the other parent initiates parental alienation. Contact a lawyer to learn more about child custody.
How reunification therapy assists children after divorce
Reunification therapy aims to help reunify parents and children after a child’s separation from the parent. Although the results may not always be perfect, this therapy improves the relationship between the parties involved.
Reunification therapy typically begins by the non-custodial parent or through a court order. Reunification therapy may be needed by the court to solve the issue if the kid’s inability to engage with the non-custodial parent violates the government-mandated child custody arrangement. However, the court is unlikely to penalize a child—especially a teenager—if they refuse to participate in therapy.
How can a therapist help in reunification therapy
The best interests of the kid come first for the therapist. In some cases, a child’s beneficial relationship with both parents is not ideal, even though it usually is the case.
The therapist will interview the child alone to find out what is causing the breach between the child & the parent. They will decide if the reunion is required after recognizing that split. When treatment is essential, the therapist is going to work in a safe environment to fix the relationship’s damage between the kid and the non-custodial parent. Getting the kid to accept the child custody agreement may not be the aim.
Occasionally, the therapist will determine that the child’s psychological well-being would be enhanced by not restoring contact with the parent. Sometimes, the therapist may discontinue therapy & offer a report explaining their justifications.
The results of this treatment tend to be inconsistent & usually take a long time. You should generally expect, as a parent, that your child is going to desire more time with you—though maybe not as much as specified in the divorce judgment. In such instances, taking your child at his or her word is preferable rather than forcing them to do anything over their choice.