Training Overview
Child-Centered Reunification Therapy (CCRT) was developed by Dr. Nicole Baker and Sarah Cross to meet the increased demands of court-ordered reunification therapy between estranged parents and their children. Rooted in the theoretical foundations of general systems theory, attachment theory, filial therapy, transformational systems theory, and Multi-Modal Family Intervention; Child-centered reunification therapy is designed to give children a voice in the reunification therapy process. Child-centered reunification therapy uses a unique two-therapist approach, which integrates parent education, co-parenting skills, mental health education, filial play therapy, and experiential play therapy approaches to reunify a disrupted family system. In CCRT, the two-therapist approach promotes equal representation of the parents and the child or children. The child gains a voice in a process, which typically ignores the needs of the child, and parents receive education in relation to better understanding the needs of their child and co-parenting skills. The presentation outlines case examples of when child-centered reunification therapy would be appropriate for use, the process of child-centered reunification, hands-on play therapy activities to facilitate parent-child connection, addressing trauma in reunification therapy, ethics in working with high-conflict families and the court system, and the process of integrating child-centered reunification therapy into a practice.