ABSTRACT
Parents who must encounter the legal system to end the legal status of their relationship can consequently transfer their relational life into an adversarial arena where con±icts between the couple can last for years. is con±ict, in turn, can a¥ect the parent-child relationship as well (Amato & Booth, 1996). Children su¥er from parental con±ict, and continued con±ict ažer a divorce negatively a¥ects children (Amato 2001; Ayoub, Deutsch, & Maraganorr, 1999; Kelly, 2000). erapists can, and should, respond to the need to pull families from an adversarial stance to one of healing and successful transition to a postcon±ict family life, where both adults and children can thrive. Traditionally, family therapy theories were developed based on the norm of intact nuclear families; however, most family therapists see families in all states and forms. Although there is slight movement toward developing family therapy models to deal with high-con±ict divorce disputes (cf. Lebow & Rekart, 2006), the models and techniques that couple and family therapists have learned in their formal training typically do not extend to couples undergoing divorce or custody con±icts. Alternative methods are needed.
