The main goal of reunification therapy is to reintroduce a parent (or parents) back into a child’s life in a safe, controlled, and therapeutic manner. The process of reunification therapy can be a very long one, but it designed to ensure a safe environment for the children and parents involved to create a new and secure bond with one another under the close supervision of a clinician. The most important idea of reunification therapy is the long-term goal of reconnecting the parent and child for a long-lasting bond.
The next step in the process is to meet with each parent and child separately. After meeting with both parents, the clinician must then work with the custodial parent to guide them towards allowing the participation and involvement of the alienated parent in the reunification process. This stage typically involves multiple sessions to gather information and therapeutic sessions as well as parenting education for the alienating parent to become aware of the benefits of having both parents involved in the children’s lives.