[MT] How do I include reunification therapy in a parenting plan?
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In Montana, reunification therapy is typically used to help mend the relationship between a parent and child who have been separated or estranged, often after a divorce or custody dispute. If reunification therapy is a part of your parenting plan, it would usually involve both the parent and the child participating in therapy sessions with a trained mental health professional. The goal of these sessions is to address any emotional barriers that might be preventing the parent-child relationship from healing and rebuilding trust.
To have reunification therapy included in your parenting plan, it’s often important to first bring up the need for it either during custody negotiations or as part of a request for modifications to an existing parenting plan. If you're in the middle of a custody battle or facing a situation where the relationship with your child is strained, this can be a helpful tool. A family law judge may include it as a condition, especially if they feel that the therapy will benefit the child’s well-being.
The therapy sessions themselves are typically structured in stages. Initially, the therapist will likely meet with both the parent and the child separately to assess their individual feelings and the nature of the estrangement. Once the therapist has an understanding of each person's perspective, joint sessions will typically begin, with the therapist guiding the conversation in a safe environment. The therapist will encourage open communication, help address any misunderstandings or hurts, and provide strategies for rebuilding trust and improving the relationship.
It's also common for the parenting plan to specify the details of the therapy, such as who will be responsible for finding a therapist, how many sessions will be required, whether the sessions are paid for by one or both parents, and how progress will be measured. If the therapist determines that reunification is not in the child’s best interest, this may be communicated to the court, which could then adjust the parenting plan accordingly.
If your parenting plan does not already include reunification therapy, and you feel it's necessary, it might be helpful to propose a modification to the court. This would involve presenting evidence of why the therapy would benefit your child, possibly including the child’s feelings about the situation or any recommendations from a counselor, therapist, or family expert.
If you're facing resistance from the other parent or running into obstacles in getting the therapy formally added to your parenting plan, you might want to consider mediation. Mediation can help facilitate an agreement on the specifics of the therapy and allow both parents to reach a consensus without needing to go back to court.
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I am looking for a sample/template parenting plan that focuses on reunification. At the direction of my daughter's therapist, I am seeking to amend our parenting plan to include coparenting therapy, parenting classes, and reunification therapy. Do you have a template for this?
I understand that you are looking for a parenting plan that focuses on reunification. Have you and the other parent discussed these changes together?
We have mediation on April 3rd.
Are you currently working with a family lawyer or mediator to help facilitate these amendments to the parenting plan?
Yes.
Is there anything else the Family Lawyer should know before I connect you? Rest assured they'll be able to help with your parenting plan.
The estranged parent has a history of substance abuse and has not been a consistent presence in their child’s life for over 8 years now.
Hi there and welcome to AskaLawyer. My name is Brandon and I'm an attorney. I’d be happy to help you out today. Please note that this discussion is for guidance only and does not constitute an Attorney-Client Relationship. My answers and comments should not be considered legal advice.
Please also note that I am human, that I often need to research your answer to give you an accurate response, that I work with other customers and get up from time to time. So please be patient while waiting for a response. If more than 30 minutes have passed, please feel free to reach out.
Where are you located?
Kalispell, MT. Estranged parent lived in same county until July of last year. Told me via text message that he was moving to Bozeman, MT to live with his mom in August. Asked in November to take our daughter for one week to Bozeman, which I was not okay with.
I can draft one for you if you would like, for an additional fee. I can send an offer if you would like.
Maybe. I'm editing our current parenting plan.
My attorney has not responded to me for over a week now. This is the second time this has happened. I feel like I might be on my own, so I'm trying to come up with what a parenting plan with reunification therapy should look like since mediation is April 3rd. I've discussed with my daughter's therapist and met with a therapist that specializes in coparenting and have an appointment on Tuesday with a therapist that specializes in reunification.
I guess I'm wondering how reunification therapy is structured in parenting plan. I understand if you can't answer.
In Montana, reunification therapy is typically used to help mend the relationship between a parent and child who have been separated or estranged, often after a divorce or custody dispute. If reunification therapy is a part of your parenting plan, it would usually involve both the parent and the child participating in therapy sessions with a trained mental health professional. The goal of these sessions is to address any emotional barriers that might be preventing the parent-child relationship from healing and rebuilding trust.
To have reunification therapy included in your parenting plan, it’s often important to first bring up the need for it either during custody negotiations or as part of a request for modifications to an existing parenting plan. If you're in the middle of a custody battle or facing a situation where the relationship with your child is strained, this can be a helpful tool. A family law judge may include it as a condition, especially if they feel that the therapy will benefit the child’s well-being.
The therapy sessions themselves are typically structured in stages. Initially, the therapist will likely meet with both the parent and the child separately to assess their individual feelings and the nature of the estrangement. Once the therapist has an understanding of each person's perspective, joint sessions will typically begin, with the therapist guiding the conversation in a safe environment. The therapist will encourage open communication, help address any misunderstandings or hurts, and provide strategies for rebuilding trust and improving the relationship.
It's also common for the parenting plan to specify the details of the therapy, such as who will be responsible for finding a therapist, how many sessions will be required, whether the sessions are paid for by one or both parents, and how progress will be measured. If the therapist determines that reunification is not in the child’s best interest, this may be communicated to the court, which could then adjust the parenting plan accordingly.
If your parenting plan does not already include reunification therapy, and you feel it's necessary, it might be helpful to propose a modification to the court. This would involve presenting evidence of why the therapy would benefit your child, possibly including the child’s feelings about the situation or any recommendations from a counselor, therapist, or family expert.
If you're facing resistance from the other parent or running into obstacles in getting the therapy formally added to your parenting plan, you might want to consider mediation. Mediation can help facilitate an agreement on the specifics of the therapy and allow both parents to reach a consensus without needing to go back to court.
Thank you. We are going to mediation on April 3rd. The father is aware and his attorney agrees that reunification therapy will be necessary. I'm just wondering how exactly to structure it in a parenting plan. I was hoping this website would have a template on how to structure reunification therapy in...
I do not have a template to share. You’re very welcome. Thanks for using AskaLawyer.
