The Creative Therapy Center provides reunification therapy services to children and their families. Reunification therapy is a process that helps families build healthy, connected relationships during difficult transitions—particularly when one parent has not had regular contact with the child(ren). The primary goal is to support the re-establishment of the parent-child relationship.

Reunification therapy is not an evaluation and is not a process that will result in recommendations for parenting time or custody.

Our Approach: Child-Centered Reunification Therapy (CCRT)

At The Creative Therapy Center, we use a specific model of reunification therapy called Child-Centered Reunification Therapy (CCRT). We have found CCRT to be especially effective for families experiencing prolonged conflict, resist-refuse dynamics, and
complicated clinical issues—concerns that are common in reunification work. Both parents are required to participate in the process, as each parent’s involvement can significantly impact the child(ren)’s experience and the outcome of reunification therapy.

CCRT was developed in 2013 by Dr. Nicole Baker in response to clinical needs and court-ordered demands for reunification between an estranged parent and child, and it is rooted in several family therapy theories. CCRT is a systemic approach to reunification between a rejected parent and a child. While traditional reunification therapy focuses primarily on enhancing the rejected parent-child relationship, CCRT expands the work to include the aligned parent and other significant people in the child’s life.

CCRT focuses on strengthening the parental subsystem in families where parents may be conflictual, traumatized, or even strangers. The model also supports the child in building confidence to accept equal, loving relationships with both parents – given both parenting parties are healthy to provide that relationship.

CCRT is designed to give children a meaningful voice in a process that is often adult-focused. With support and guidance from the therapist, children are encouraged to build confidence as they participate in decisions about the reunification therapy process and
the development of their relationship with the rejected parent.

CCRT respects past hurts, trauma, and the feelings of all parties involved. The model may include individual sessions with each party to address these experiences, work toward resolution, and promote growth in the rejected parent-child relationship. Shaming and blaming are not part of the CCRT process. Each parent’s feelings are honored and respected; however, emphasis is placed on the idea that children have a right to an equal relationship with both parents.

Dr. Nicole Baker conducted original research on CCRT during her doctoral program and published her dissertation on the model. Sarah Cross is continuing this research as she completes her dissertation. Dr. Baker and Sarah continue to train clinicians and provide
ongoing consultation on CCRT.

*Child-Centered Reunification Therapy is not an evaluative process. Therapists will not make any parenting time recommendations as a result of this process.