In child welfare and high-conflict divorce cases, a child can become distant from one or both parents.  The child may not be in the parents’ care due to being placed in foster care after a DCF investigation, or losing custody of the child to the other parent.  After investigations, a case plan can be made to have the child and parent(s) begin to see each other again and rebuild a relationship.  The reconciliation is done in a safe space, like a therapeutic setting.  This can be through reunification therapy, or supervised visitations.  These two interventions are similar in the goal of keeping a bond between the parent and child, however they have different purposes.  

Supervised Visitation

Supervised visits are done in a monitored environment, where the child and non-custodial parent are able to meet and interact in a safe place.  Parents who are court ordered to supervised visitations typically had custodial rights taken away due to unsafe behaviors, such as substance abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, and other crimes, or inability to care for the child.  The focus of a supervised visit to ensure the child’s safety while they are meeting with that parent. 

These supervised visitation can be done by a neutral monitor.   The non-custodial parent can expect the monitor to guide them if the parent has concerns on how to interact with their child.  Monitors are able to intervene and correct any behaviors they find inappropriate or unsafe, and can educate the parent on appropriate parenting skills.  Supervised visitations are typically short-term, and may be done during reunification therapy or a step before it.  These visits do not aim to repair or achieve healthy relationships, but to enable having an ongoing relationship and being observed.  There may also be a stricter process in coming into visitations depending on reasons for visitation.  For example, if the non-custodial parent had their rights taken away due to domestic violence, the visitation center would have the non-custodial parent to come at a certain time in order to not run into the custodial parent.  This is to ensure safety of the custodial parent and protect the child from witnessing this conflict.  

Reunification Therapy 

Reunification therapy is a longer term therapeutic process between the child and parent(s) who have a strained relationship.  The main focus of these sessions is to reintroduce and repair the parent/child relationship in a safe and therapeutic environment.  Therapy goals would include building a lasting bond,  along with improving communication, boundaries, trust, and healing.  Reunification therapy may be recommended or court ordered when the child refuses to spend time with a parent.  This can be due to past conflict or alienation, and is mostly seen in complex divorces or poor parent choices in the past.  

Reunification therapy is facilitated by a licensed therapist.  All documents, including but not limited to, court orders, DCF/child welfare, psychological evaluations, police reports, court motions, parenting plans, and court motions are all provided to the therapist to review.  It’s important for the therapist to have a full understanding and have the information to create an effective treatment plan.  Both parents and the child will have the chance to meet with the therapist separately.  The therapist can also help guide the custodial parent on getting the child to reunification therapy sessions, and guiding the non-custodial parent in parenting skills.  In high-conflict divorces, it can be difficult to encourage the child and custodial parent to engage in reunification therapy.  The therapist helps to guide them in having awareness of the benefits of having a strong relationship with both parents.  

Summary

Supervised visitations and reunification therapy are similar in maintaining a relationship between a child and their non-custodial parent(s), however they have different goals and different reasons for needing them.  A supervised visitation is necessary for keeping the child and parent engaged in communication at a site where it is monitored for safety.  Reunification therapy is a longer term solution to building a stronger relationship between a child and parent who have a strained relationship.  Both interventions can be court ordered, and are decided on depending on the situation and what is best for the child and family.