Reunification/Reintegration Family Therapy techniques and approach involves meeting with the parent and child separately to assess, evaluate, and build rapport/alliance. The intake and treatment plan may be done together with the parent(s) and children or separate with each parent and/or the child/adolescent, if needed. 

The treatment goals involve the parent taking accountability, the child will express/play through and process thoughts/feelings around the separation, the parent will learn healthy parenting and discipline skills, communication skills, empathy, validation, and attunement, rebuild the parent-child attachment bond to create a secure bond, heal relational wounds, the family will create values and rules, the parent will provide clarification for the child through validating the child’s feelings and experiences, the child will be at ease with the parent and communicate and express needs, therapy will move at the child’s pace for reunification sessions, and reintegrate in a successful and health way. 

The sessions can integrate individual and family therapy based on the best interest of the child. The therapist will get all the appropriate releases to coordinate care with the treatment team and provide regular updates. Typically, the services are covered by insurance or paid out of pocket. 

There’s four stages that can take 3-6 weeks each. The therapist determines when the family is ready for the next phase (consulting and coordination will be needed). The first phase is the prep phase, where the therapist will gather the history, determine the needs of the family, and build rapport with both the parent and the child. This is done with individual sessions with all appropriate family members and can include family therapy as appropriate, and coordination with any individual therapists. 

Accountability stage: the therapist will determine the level of accountability with the parent by giving assignments, such as building consistency and trust with the child. As well as establishing boundaries and progress on goals and typically writing an accountability letter to the child, which is approved by the therapist. The letter is to clarify, resolve, explain, and empower the child through this process. This can take several drafts and must be age-appropriate and in the best interest of the child. The therapist is monitoring the parent’s consistency, accountability, ability to empathize, and commitment before in person reunification occurs. 

Clarification stage: the parent and therapist prepare for the in person reunification sessions, such as writing letters to each other, or communicating through texts, phone or video calls, or in person contact, and practicing therapy exercises. The parent should come prepared with materials to show consistency and commitment towards reintegration. 

Reunification stage: first there is a therapeutic supervised visit with the parent, child, and reintegration therapist (this can be a session and outside therapeutic supervised visits are usually court ordered, so an ROI can be obtained to coordinate with this person).

Community-based visits will happen once the parent and child are ready and the sessions will include processing these visits. Then unsupervised visits happen, typically through the court and all parties involved. Parenting time plan is also usually worked through with the court. Once the family has completed successful reintegration/reunification, weekly family therapy is scheduled as needed. This process can take several months.