Parent POV
Taking a Family Prism Approach
Parents may have different views and communication styles.
Both parents have a unique relationship with their child.
The research literature shows possible connections between court decisions and the parent-child relationship making this a critical topic to address.
Why is this important?
- A parent who directs negative behaviors toward their co-parent or involves the child when denigrating the co-parent might contribute to the child not trusting their feelings about their parent (Jaffe et al., 2017) and becoming confused about which parent is “right.”
- The causes of the PCCP may stem from court-associated or parent-specific circumstances, including domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) (Sullivan et al., 2024).
- Parental behaviors may also result in the child feeling unable to express their love or positive feelings towards one parent without experiencing negativity or retribution from the other (Ben-Ami & Baker, 2012).
Family Prism considerations
The Family Prism Approach identifies the needs and experiences of the family members while considering the rulings of family court and potential options for helping each member of the family.
For example...
- One parent may have a flexible work schedule, or who lives closer to the child’s school or social network and thus be less disruptive to their routine (Garber, 2020; Neilson, 2018a; O'Brien, 2021).
- Other factors may include a parent who is struggling with mental or physical health problems, or is deemed as lacking sufficient parenting skills by court professionals (Neilson, 2018b).
- It is necessary to evaluate the relationship between the parent and their co-parent, and the child’s relationship with each parent to ensure protection against violence and abuse and meet the emotional and physical needs of both children and parents (Stark et al., 2019).
Summary
The ultimate goal is to promote the child’s well-being and provide appropriate professional support to foster healthy parent-child relationships.
Research shows...
Spending time together can significantly influence parent-child relationships amid family court matters (Baker & Ben-Ami, 2011; Baker & Verrocchio, 2015).
What is the Family Prism Approach
Points of View in Family Court
Points of View in Family Court
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“Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other” (JPS Hebrew-English Tanakh, 1985/2014, 1 Kings 3:26).
It is necessary to consider multiple factors, adopt a child-centered approach, and thoroughly examine all elements of the situation to ensure that court decisions are made in the child’s best interest.