Informed Consent for Reunification/Family Chris Bassett

Reunification therapy is a specific form of therapy that addresses a breach or lack of unity between a parent and a child, often in cases where the parents are divorced or living apart. The child or children are considered the client. Parents are considered Collateral Contacts.

Reunification therapy may be sought by the parents, or ordered by a court, when a child is resisting or refusing to have contact with a parent, or when a parent and child have not had contact for an extended period of time.
There are many reasons why a child may be reluctant, resistant or refuse to have contact with a parent. Sometimes the parent and child never had a well-established relationship; other times there are difficulties between the parent and child that have been long-standing or are newly emerging. Sometimes events have occurred that have hurt the parent-child relationship, including exposure to stormy or violent parent interactions and/or child mistreatment. In some situations, one parent is undermining or interfering with the child's relationship with the other parent, either knowingly or unknowingly. Many times, a child is reacting to the stress of being caught in the middle of parent conflict or to differences in the parents' styles of parenting and has chosen to align with one parent in an effort to relieve that stress. Often there is a combination of factors at play that have led to the child's reactions.
In reunification therapy, the therapist assesses the individuals and family system, establishes treatment goals, and implements a treatment plan designed to address the specific factors that are contributing to the problem. The therapist strives to help the child and both parents make changes that will lead to healthier and more satisfying parent-child relationships.

Reunification/family therapy is not easily described in general statements because it varies depending on the particular problems that the child and parents bring forward. There are many different methods that may be employed, including individual sessions with the child or either parent, individual sessions with other family members or significant others, and conjoint sessions with two or more family members present. There are a variety of ways in which the child and the parent who is being avoided may be asked to communicate and engage with one another, including, but not limited to, in-session conversations and activities, telephone calls, electronic messaging, hand-written communication, and exchanging artifacts, items, photos and belongings, and out-of-session outings and activities, which may last for several hours or involve an overnight. The amount and type of parent-child contact is usually defined by the court order.

Although the focus and pace of treatment is based on the needs and well-being of the child or children and the child or children are the client/patient, both parents are part of the treatment as collateral contacts. Collateral Contact Paperwork will need to be signed. Hence, reunification therapy is considered a family therapy. Reunification/family therapy calls for an active effort on the part of both parents. In order for the therapy to be successful, both parents are expected to strive toward goals that are designed to help the child. These goals are identified with the help of the therapist. Therapeutic work requires genuine effort on the part of each parent to examine and change unhelpful behaviors and attitudes that contribute to the child’s reactions.



Each parent is expected to support and encourage the child in the therapeutic endeavor, refrain from questioning the child about his/her individual sessions or time spent with the other parents, and to be as open-minded as possible about making changes in oneself. Each parent is expected to make treatment a priority and help their child make it a priority.

Continuity of services is crucial to success, especially in the beginning. Frequent or long interruptions in attendance will undermine the effectiveness of the treatment. Generally, you can expect that there will be weekly sessions, tapering to less frequent sessions as soon as it is indicated. It is the responsibility of the parents to ensure that the child is present and on time for sessions

Each parent is expected to cooperate with the therapist’s recommendations for how transportation to the sessions will be structured. It is sometimes requested that neither parent bring the child, but rather, a third party be responsible for transporting the child to sessions.

The therapist will conduct a family assessment and create a treatment plan. If prior evaluations have occured, reports and relevant documents will be reviewed. The therapist will work with the child and each of the parents to address how their behavior may be contributing to the problem. The therapist strives to work in a time and cost-efficient manner, but therapy proceeds at a pace that is in accordance with the child's needs, which may be faster than one parent desires and slower than the parent desires .
With proper releases, or in accordance with a court order, the therapist may issue therapeutic progress reports to the attorneys or the court. The following information may be included: detailed descriptions of the cooperation of all parties, including disclosure of any resistance, alienation, or undermining that is observed or believed to be occurring; therapeutic issues being addressed, and progress towards goals.
The court will decide issues such as parenting time, not the reunification/family therapist; although, the court may rely on input from the therapist in reaching decisions about parenting time and/or other legal decisions. The therapist assists the family members in preparing for and adjusting to court-ordered parenting time and other provisions in the court order.

Reunification/family therapy involves potential benefits and risks. The potential benefits for the child include reduction of distress, anxiety, anger and resistance toward a parent, improved critical thinking and conflict management skills, improved insight into family relationships and dynamics, and a greater understanding of how to avoid getting caught in the parents' issues. The potential benefits for the parents include a reduction in parental stress and conflict, improved parenting effectiveness, and healthier and more balanced family relationships.
In terms of risks, reunification/family therapy involves approaching issues and problems that a child or parent may prefer to avoid or ignore. Approaching and discussing unpleasant issues may lead to uncomfortable feelings such as sadness, anger, guilt, frustration, anxiety and confusion. Children may externalize their feelings through their behaviors. Some children may be unable to engage in or tolerate the demands of therapy, especially if the child's resistance and separation from a parent has been long-standing, the family conflict has been particularly complex and severe, or other issues are present that prevent progress. While therapy can be beneficial, leading to better relationships, solutions to specific problems, and a significant reduction of distress, there are no guarantees that these goals will be achieved. If therapy is not benefitting the child within a reasonable length of time, it will be terminated.

Reunification therapy is, by nature, difficult work for all involved. My role is to determine safety for the child(ren) and help the parents and children work toward a healthier relationship with their child(ren). This is frequently a court mandated process, and it requires openness to the therapist's input about what is helpful for the children from both parents.

If you are dissatisfied with my services, please let me know so we can discuss it. If you grieve me and I prevail, you agree to pay my attorney fees, and all my costs, in addition to my hourly rate for any time I spend handling the matter with the state, at my standard reunification hourly rate of $175/hour. You as the client agree to pay all costs in this situation, and all expenses that are incurred will be passed on to you.

I understand that Reunification Therapy is a process that is sometimes requested or required by the court. By signing this document, I understand that the court may request the professional opinion of the Reunification Therapist. I hereby give my full consent for the the therapist, Christine Bassett, MA, LMFT, to appear and testify in court about her experience and professional opinion with my child(ren) and with me regarding the therapeutic process of reunification therapy.

When reunification therapy is part of a court action or possible court action, the parents will be asked to sign Authorization to Release Information forms to allow for the release of progress reports which will include a summary of the treatment issues, treatment goals, progress toward goals, and a detailed description of the level of cooperation evidenced by each parent. Additionally, signed releases will be needed to consult with other professionals involved in the case.

Therapy and consultation sessions are 50-minutes in length. If you are late for a session, the session will still need to end on time in order to accommodate clients scheduled after you. Since the entire time was reserved for your session, you will be charged the full fee because that time was held for you. No-shows and cancellations without a 24-hour notice will be billed at the full session rate.

Therapy sessions are usually held weekly or bi-weekly. It is difficult to predict exactly how many sessions will be needed; this will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Please feel free to discuss this matter with me personally. Consultations may be one time only, intermittent, or ongoing, depending on your needs.

The charge per session is $185.00 for therapy and general consultations. If we agree to longer or shorter sessions, you will be charged accordingly. Services such as testing or other diagnostic procedures, consultation with other professionals, preparation of reports or correspondence, phone calls, or other time spent in connection with your case will be billed at the hourly rate or in increments of 10 minutes. All charges outside of the sessions will be billed to the person requesting the service.

There will be a summary provided at the conclusion of the reunification therapy or when there is an upcoming court hearing. This is billed by the minute at the same rate as the sessions.

Please give 24 hours notice when canceling an appointment. For appointments on Mondays, notice of cancellation must be given by the preceding Friday. No-shows and cancellations without 24 hours notice will be billed at the full session rate.

A retainer for 10 hours of service is required to begin services, with a replenishment of the retainer (for another 10 hours of time) due when 2 hours are left. When therapy terminates, any unused funds will be promptly refunded. ($350 minimum balance).

If your account is not kept current, a $25.00 late fee will be applied, and further services for your family will not be scheduled. Delinquent accounts will be subject to waive your right to confidentiality for purposes of collections being contacted with your name. By signing this agreement, you agree to these financial arrangements.

Psychotherapy, including family therapy, is often covered by insurance, and many people wonder why reunification therapy is different. The focus of Reunification Therapy is on healing relationship breakdowns involving multiple family members. Meetings contain, one and often more than one, family member and are not the right setting to focus on the mental health of one person only. Additionally, in order for Reunification Therapy to be effective, therapists spend time outside of the face to face meetings coordinating meetings, consulting by phone or email with other professionals, and coaching clients. Insurance plans do not pay for these activities. Traditional psychotherapy is limited to the 45-60 minute therapy hour, and the focus of the meetings must be on treatment for a diagnosed mental illness. This is the approach that will qualify for insurance reimbursement. For these reasons we do not bill insurance for Reunification Therapy. Clients may choose to appeal directly to their insurance provider to see if sessions may be covered under an out-of-network benefit and submitted for reimbursement after the services are provided and paid for. This is not guaranteed.