When Parents Are at War

Book excerpt: All psychotherapists who work with children and families will come across cases with the parents divorcing or previously divorced experiencing high levels of conflict. These cases can be extremely complex and there can be potential hazards mental health professionals need to be aware of and prepared for. This book is a practical guide providing actionable measures mental health professionals can take to properly screen potential cases, establish and observe essential policies and protocols and observe important boundaries in order to preserve the integrity of the child's therapy and maintain healthy therapeutic relationships with the parents who are at war with one another without being pulled into the middle of the parental conflict. This guidebook also provides specific recommendations with regard to ensuring the self-care is in place for the psychotherapists when working with these kinds of cases that can cause mental and emotional depletion.