One of the most common things I see when working with a child of separated/divorced parents is the child’s difficulty coping with the conflict that has developed between his or her parents. While including parents in the counseling process is typically a part of counseling for children, doing so in high conflict separation/divorce scenarios has proven to not be effective.
If you believe that the main reason for your child’s maladjustment is related to co-parenting challenges, counseling for your child is not the best choice. Instead, you and your ex should meet with a therapist to discuss your co-parenting relationship and resolve the conflict between you. You may do that at Encompass, or we can provide a list of referrals for co-parenting therapy.
If you and your ex have attended co-parenting counseling and resolved your differences but your child’s maladjustment remains, setting up an appointment for your child would be the appropriate next step.