Reunification, reconsidered: Presenting an integrative, single-therapist framework for resolving parent–child contact problems

Abstract

Providing therapy to families of separation and divorce can be a challenging area of practice for marriage and family therapists, particularly when a child refuses contact with a parent. Several forms of “reunification therapy” designed to overcome resist/refuse dynamics between a child and parent have been proposed, with significant variation across the conceptualization of factors contributing to parent–child contact problems and the resulting treatment models that have been described. In an effort to design an overarching integrative framework for conducting family reunification therapy that is informed by available evidence, a review of the current literature is conducted. Following this review, an integrative single-therapist framework for resolving parent–child contact problems is presented. Over the course of three successive treatment “stages,” this framework permits a marriage and family therapist to conduct reunification therapy in an evidence-informed manner along general systemic therapeutic principles while permitting flexibility with respect to the specific interventions selected.