Group Therapy for High-Conflict Divorce: The “No Kids in the Middle” Intervention Programme
Theory and researchTheoretical basisEscalating conflictsTypical factors of high-conflict divorcesDemonization and rising stressActive involvement of the networkArguing about the divorce story and about goalsChildren falling off the radarPowerlessnessStagnated transitionInterventionsNoteScientific researchIntroductionStudy in the Dutch language areaDescription of the study populationHow do children experience the conflicts and the divorce?Change studyChange in parentsChange in childrenLink between changes in parents and in childrenRole of forgiving and the social networkWhat is the role of trust between parents?Outline international researchNorwayBelgium - LeuvenConclusions and clinical implicationsParental conflictsPositive processes between parentsThe importance of the social networkParent-child and child-parent relationshipsChanges in children of HCD parentsResearch strengths and limitationsPracticeMethodology outlineMain characteristics of the treatmentSession outlineSafety and changeTherapistsThe groups, general organizationPreliminary and subsequent discussions and breakThe warm-upFinal reportNo Kids in the Middle as a first course, main course or dessertThe keystonesAttitudeCommunityChildrenLetting goDestructive patternsChanging by experiencingIntake and referralReferral and contraindicationIndications for referralContraindicationsIf a preliminary treatment is indicatedNo Kids in the Middle for individual familiesReferralExploratory talk with parentsIntake with parents and childrenJoint startThe parentsThe childrenHome and the interspaceGroup compositionThe network meetingThe parent groupDynamics in the parent and children’s groupSession breakdownThe sessionsEvaluation session per parent couple with people from their network and referrersContacts in between and additional network meetingsSome examples. Bernt, Milan and his motherCrossing limitsNetwork meeting in case of stagnation: three clans become one clanNetwork meetings without parentsNotesThe children’s groupGoal for the children’s groupThe session breakdownPoints of attention in the children’s groupStructure and agreementsAttitudeAge differencesBrothers and sistersSocial mediaWishes for the futureGeneral routine of the sessionsGoal, backgrounds and examples of presentationsThe sessionsEpilogueRegistration formOpen questions No Kids in the MiddleInvitation for participation after intake interviewExercises and gamesFinal reportFinal report example 1Final report example 2
