What Is the Role of “Reunification Therapy” in a Maryland Child Custody Dispute?
We all recognize that divorce is a traumatic experience for young children caught in the middle of their parents’ failing marriage. That trauma does not magically heal once the judge signs a final custody and visitation order. To the contrary, it is quite common for the child to become alienated from one or both parents. This can often lead to a child refusing to spend time with their non-custodial parent in spite of the court-imposed visitation schedule.
Helping to Repair “Totally Fractured” Parent-Child Relationships After Divorce
In serious cases of parental alienation, the court may order what is called “reunification therapy.” According to Psychology Today:
Reunification therapy has a clear, single goal: the re-establishment of connection between parent and child and the restoration of their roles within the family and/or between separated parental households. The therapist called upon to work with the parent and child may use a range of modalities and interventions to achieve goals including improved communication, and a restored sense of attachment within the family. The therapist remains a neutral third-party whose client is the family as a whole.
Given that the purpose of reunification therapy is to repair and strengthen the bond between the child and the alienated parent, as opposed to “punishing” said parent, it probably should come as no surprise that Maryland courts see no conflict between requiring therapy and continuing to require regular visitation between the child and parent. Yet the Appellate Court of Maryland recently addressed a case, Wilson v. Landers, where a custodial parent argued just that.
This case involved a once-married couple with two minor children. The parents divorced in 2019. Under the terms of a final child custody order entered by a Maryland circuit court, the mother received primary physical custody of the children, while the father received overnight visitation rights every other week. Three years later, the mother filed a petition for a protective order seeking suspension of the father’s visitation rights due to alleged behavioral changes in one of the children. The court denied that petition, and a few months later the father filed a motion to modify custody, accusing the mother of denying him physical access to the children.
During the subsequently litigation, the mother raised allegations of child abuse against the father, which he denied. He further maintained the mother “had alienated him from his children” and coached them to make false abuse allegations. The circuit court eventually determined that one of the children was in fact “coached” and that the abuse allegations were “unsubstantiated.” The court further determined that the “the relationship between the father and the children has been totally fractured,” and that while his visitation rights would remain in place, the children would require reunification therapy.
The mother appealed, arguing that it was contradictory to continue allowing the father visitation when the circuit court found the relationship had been totally fractured. The Appellate Court, however, saw no conflict, noting that “the deterioration of the relationship was due, at least in part, to the fact that Father had not had access to the children for a significant period of time.” And that was the very issue that reunification therapy was meant to address.
Contact a La Plata Child Custody Lawyer Today
Child custody disputes are often emotional and difficult for all parties concerned. If you need legal advice and representation from a compassionate La Plata child custody attorney, contact Fanning Law today at 301-934-3620 to schedule a consultation. We serve clients in LaPlata, Waldorf, and Lexington Park.
Sources:
psychologytoday.com/us/therapy-types/reunification-therapy
scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=3727738801928519793
