Reunification Therapy 

Treatment Duration: Weekly sessions over 12–24 weeks (individualized and potentially adjusted based on progress).

Phase 1: Assessment & Engagement 

Duration: Weeks 1–2 
Goals: 

  • Establish therapeutic rapport with all parties. 

  • Conduct clinical and historical assessment of family dynamics, estrangement causes, and readiness. 

  • Identify safety concerns or contraindications. 

Interventions: 

  • Individual sessions with child, rejected parent, and favored parent. 

  • Review of court orders, custody arrangements, and any forensic evaluations. 

  • Psychoeducation about the purpose and structure of reunification therapy. 

Expected Outcomes: 

  • Clear understanding of each participant’s perspective. 

  • Informed consent and agreement to ground rules of therapy. 

  • Identification of barriers and protective factors. 

 

Phase 2: Psychoeducation & Individual Work 

Duration: Weeks 3–6 
Goals: 

  • Reduce child’s anxiety and resistance toward contact with the rejected parent. 

  • Strengthen co-parenting boundaries and reduce triangulation. 

  • Equip all parties with tools for emotional regulation and communication. 

Interventions: 

  • Individual CBT-based sessions focusing on distorted thinking, blame, and self-concept. 

  • Psychoeducation about loyalty conflicts, family systems, and the impact of estrangement. 

  • Co-parenting consultation (with both parents or separately) on maintaining neutrality and supporting child’s relationship with both parents. 

Expected Outcomes: 

  • Child can verbalize feelings about each parent in a safe way. 

  • Parents demonstrate insight into their roles in the dynamic. 

  • Decreased reactivity and improved cooperation with therapist’s guidance. 

 

Phase 3: Facilitated Parent-Child Contact 

Duration: Weeks 7–12 
Goals: 

  • Reintroduce child and rejected parent in a safe, structured setting. 

  • Build positive experiences and correct misperceptions. 

  • Support child’s autonomy and emotional safety during sessions. 

Interventions: 

  • Therapist-led joint sessions with games, activities, or communication exercises. 

  • Real-time coaching for rejected parent on validating, not pressuring. 

  • Debriefing with child after each session to support emotional processing. 

Expected Outcomes: 

  • Increased tolerance of contact by child. 

  • Decreased anxiety and avoidance behaviors. 

  • Emergence of shared positive memories or interactions. 

 

Phase 4: Generalization of Contact 

Duration: Weeks 13–18 
Goals: 

  • Transition parent-child interactions to natural settings. 

  • Reduce therapist presence while maintaining gains. 

  • Ensure co-parenting behavior supports reunification. 

Interventions: 

  • Supervised transitions to home or community visits. 

  • Safety and behavior agreements reviewed and signed by all parties. 

  • Ongoing support sessions for favored parent to address anxieties or sabotage. 

Expected Outcomes: 

  • Child initiates or responds to contact with less prompting. 

  • Rejected parent demonstrates consistency, emotional safety, and responsiveness. 

  • Favored parent refrains from undermining and supports therapeutic goals. 

 

Phase 5: Maintenance & Termination 

Duration: Weeks 19–24 
Goals: 

  • Ensure stability of the restored relationship. 

  • Develop plan for continued contact and problem-solving. 

  • End therapy with clear expectations and support resources. 

Interventions: 

  • Final joint sessions focused on future planning and closure. 

  • Aftercare planning (e.g., family therapy, co-parenting therapy, check-ins). 

  • Written recommendations provided to family and/or court, if needed. 

Expected Outcomes: 

  • Family has a sustainable, functional reunification plan. 

  • Child reports improved sense of emotional security and connectedness. 

  • Therapy concludes with goals met or referred for maintenance support.