ADR – Alternative Dispute Resolution

Anderson Psychological Services, LLC provides alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services for families.  ADR services offered include child inclusive mediation (CIM), parenting consulting (PC), reunification therapy, and social early neutral evaluations (SENE).  In addition, Dr. Anderson offers parenting coaching to provide support during a separation or divorce, and to address co-parenting concerns.  More comprehensive guidance is available to parents who are interested in planning and coordinating important steps toward supporting the children during a divorce.  Common topics include how to tell the children about upcoming changes, comprehensive parenting plans that are sensitive to each child’s unique needs and developmental stages, and effective co-parenting practices.

Overview of ADR Processes*

Child Inclusive Mediation (CIM)

Child Inclusive Mediation (CIM) is a hybrid mediation process that utilizes the assistance of a Child Consultant during mediation, for the purpose of including the children’s perspective in settlement discussions.  The Child Consultant works with the Mediator to provide parents with important information, highlight developmental challenges, discuss themes shared by the children, and the potential impact on the children if significant co-parenting disputes are not resolved. Read More…

Parenting Consulting (PC)

A Parenting Consultant (PC) is appointed by the court, at the request of the parties, to assist with ongoing parenting disputes.  The PC works with parents to help them reach agreements, and may make binding decisions if there is an impasse.  The PC can benefit parents by minimizing the need to return to court by providing a forum to address co-parenting challenges, by addressing ways to decreasing conflict, and by determining if additional individual services may be warranted. Read More…

Reunification Therapy

Reunification therapy involves the entire family, and is used to address a disruption in regularly scheduled parenting time between a child and one of their parents.  The primary focus is on repairing the relationship through a series of sessions to address sources of conflict, work to develop improved communication, and guidance with improving parenting practices in an effort to restore trust within the relationships.  Parents work with the Reunification Therapist to understand how they each impact the child and are important for the healthy development of the children. Read More…

Social Early Neutral Evaluations (SENE)

A Social Early Neutral Evaluation (SENE) is an evaluative process that is facilitated by a male and female team.  It generally occurs in the early stages of divorce and paternity cases.  The evaluators provide a neutral opinion related to custody and parenting time.  The evaluators also provide recommendations related to additional supports (such as therapy, chemical dependency evaluations, assistance from a parenting consultant, etc.), when appropriate.  SENE is a confidential process. Read More…

*Please see additional information about each ADR process by choosing the service from the dropdown menu.