Divorce and separation can be particularly difficult for children, especially when they are young and accustomed to having both parents in the same home. In a Los Angeles child custody case, a child’s daily life may suddenly change—where they sleep, when they see each parent, and how they move between two households.
Counseling can be an important resource for both parents and children during a California divorce or child custody proceeding. For children, therapy can provide a neutral and supportive environment to process the changes occurring within their family. For parents, counseling can help improve communication, reduce conflict, and develop healthier co-parenting strategies.
California Family Code § 3190 also gives the family court authority, under certain circumstances, to order parents and children to participate in outpatient counseling. In determining whether counseling is appropriate, the court may consider the circumstances of the custody dispute and the potential impact of the parents’ conflict on the child.
Although every family is different, parents involved in a high-conflict custody case should consider whether counseling could help their children adjust to the transition. Protecting children from parental conflict and providing them with appropriate emotional support can make a meaningful difference as the family establishes a new routine after separation.
Atighechi Law Group represents parents in complex child custody matters throughout Los Angeles County. Maryam Atighechi is a Certified Family Law Specialist with extensive experience handling contested custody proceedings.