ABSTRACT

The Parent's Guide to Good Divorce Behavior can be utilized simply as a psychoeducational tool for parents navigating the transition of divorce. It can be utilized at the therapist's discretion in the therapy context. Parents are often grateful for this information, or grateful for information they can pass on to an ex-spouse who may be involving the children inappropriately in the parental divorce. Maryann brought her nine-year-old daughter. Melanie for individual therapy at the suggestion of Melanie's pediatrician. The handout developed herein is to give the therapist an aid for parents to use to evaluate their own behavior and correct problems that may be negatively influencing their children. Maryann requested individual therapy for Melanie, and although Maryann agreed to some family sessions, she would not even consider including her husband, Benjamin, in family therapy sessions. The therapist learned that shortly before Melanie's symptoms broke out her parents had finally decided to divorce, following years of acrimony.