What Fort Lauderdale Parents Should Know About Reunification Therapy After Child Time-Sharing Disputes

Disputes over child time-sharing in Fort Lauderdale can escalate to the point where they cause serious damage to the relationship between a parent and child. When conflict, distance, or allegations strain the bond you share, Florida courts may turn to reunification therapy to help rebuild it.

If the Broward County Family Court ordered you to go through this process, or if you are considering requesting it, understanding how it works and what to expect gives you a real advantage. Our experienced Fort Lauderdale family lawyer explains what reunification therapy involves and how it may affect your case.

When Florida Courts Order Reunification Therapy

Under the Florida Statutes (Section 61.13), protecting the child’s best interests is the top priority in Fort Lauderdale child time-sharing proceedings. This generally means encouraging ongoing contact with both parents. Reunification therapy can help support that objective. Situations where it may help include:

• A parent and child are estranged.
• There are credible concerns about parental alienation or one parent interfering with the child’s relationship with the other.
• A parent has past issues, such as mental health problems or drug abuse, and is working toward rebuilding their parental role.
• A Guardian ad Litem or parenting evaluator recommends therapeutic intervention.
• The court wants to transition a child from supervised time-sharing toward a more normalized parenting schedule.
• A child is resisting contact with a parent and an independent professional is needed to assess and address the underlying reasons.

Reunification therapy generally involves eight to twelve weekly sessions. The therapist provides regular progress reports to the court, which can influence future child time-sharing decisions.

Scheduled for Reunification Therapy in Fort Lauderdale? How to Protect Your Parental Rights

Reunification therapy is not a quick fix, and it is not just about the parent and child in the room. Both parents play a meaningful role in whether the process succeeds. Courts pay close attention to how each parent behaves throughout the process, and your conduct becomes part of the record in your case.

Steps that support a successful outcome and protect your parental rights include:

• Attend every session and be on time, as being late or missing visits signals a lack of commitment to the court.
• Avoid discussing your case, the other parent, or the therapy content with your child between sessions.
• Follow the therapist’s recommendations, even if progress seems slow.
• Cooperate with any payment arrangements specified by the court, as payment disputes reflect poorly and can stall the process.

Judges in Broward County family court consistently reward parents who approach reunification therapy with patience, good faith, and a genuine focus on their child’s well-being.

Contact Our Experienced Fort Lauderdale Child Time-Sharing Lawyer

If reunification therapy is part of your Fort Lauderdale child time-sharing case, getting experienced legal help can make a real difference in how the process unfolds. To protect your rights and your relationship with your child, get Vanessa L. Prieto Law Offices on your side. Give our office a call or contact us online and request a consultation today.

Source:

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0061/Sections/0061.13.html