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Individual Therapy With a Child of Divorced Parents
Author(s) -
Jordan Pauline H.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/jclp.22258
Subject(s) - psychology , intervention (counseling) , therapeutic relationship , psychotherapist , therapeutic approach , child psychotherapy , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , psychiatry , medicine , disease , pathology
This article reviews the literature on divorce as a risk factor in children's psychological development; describes common themes expressed by children presenting in treatment; and highlights the unique challenges for the child therapist working with a child of divorce, particularly those with high parental conflict and court involvement. Then, using a case example, the article describes therapeutic strategies and a treatment structure that, consistent with the ethical guidelines of the American Psychological Association (2010), focuses on developing and maintaining the therapeutic relationship to support the psychological growth of the child. Finally, the article discusses the ethical challenges inherent in providing therapeutic intervention for this type of child and the implications for this type of therapeutic approach.