Parenting course for Separated Parents
The Parenting Course for Parents who are separated
This course is being delivered in the North Hampshire area by the Relate centres based in Aldershot, Basingstoke & Winchester. The course is provided in 2 sessions each of 2 hours.
Many of the conflicts involving the family courts result from disagreements between separated parents over the children. Research has shown that children witnessing conflict between their parents, both when they are together, and when they are separated, experience distress that can lead to behavioural problems both at the time, and in later life.
In an attempt to reduce the need for ongoing court involvement and to help support both parents and children CAFCASS commissioned Relate to develop a course that could be used by the courts in cases where parents are finding it difficult to adhere to contact orders.
The course itself covers four main areas over a flexible period of four hours. The four sections are:
• The divorce/separation journey. This section outlines current statistics and research about separation and asks participants to reflect on their own experience.
• Divorce/separation from the children’s perspective. Using a video developed by children, participants are invited to consider how children experience separation and how parents can minimize their children’s distress.
• Communication with their ex-partner. Participants look at their current communication patterns and consider how to change them for the better.
• The emotional journey. In this section participants learn about the emotional impact of separation and how to manage these emotions for better outcomes. They also start the development of an action plan.
At the end of the course participants should have developed strategies to help minimise conflict between themselves and their ex-partners to the long term benefit of their children.
The courses are delivered by experienced Relate counsellors who have not only been trained in delivering the course, but are also fully trained counsellors with experience in working with couples, children and individuals affected by relationship difficulties.
Course availability:
Relate Aldershot: 2 x 2 hour blocks at Relate Aldershot on 1st 2 Friday afternoons each month 1300 – 1500 hours
Relate Basingstoke: Course run in a day 1000 – 1500 hours on 24 November 2009; 26 January 2010; 22 February 2010 and 23 March 2010
Enquiries – please phone your nearest Relate centre.
