Holiday Challenges for Co-Parenting
Posted by leoterbieten in Holiday Issues on October 16, 2014
Custody Blog October 2014 Leo Terbieten MFT Leoterbieten.com As the Jewish High Holy Days come to their lunar, agrarian climax and Thanksgiving and Christmas begin to creep into our consciousness, it seems like a good time to reflect on child custody holiday issues. The holidays are a time of heightened emotion under the best of […]
Fighting for the Soul of your Child
Posted by leoterbieten in Fighting for the Soul of your Child on September 17, 2014
Leo Terbieten MFT Fighting for the Soul of your Child To the fortunate uninitiated, the conflict that occurs between parents during divorce can seem inexcusable. After all can’t these parents behave like adults and do what’s best for their children? Well here’s the problem; often the parents are not only doing what […]
New Book Release! Change Your Mind
Posted by leoterbieten in Change Your Mind on August 27, 2014
Change Your Mind is now available. A blueprint for dealing with the often untenable yet unavoidable necessity of maintaining a relationship with your co-parent, Change Your Mind advances an approach that fosters safety, insight and effective communication. It’s an approach that’s designed to help protect you and your children from unhealthy co-parenting dynamics. It’s a […]
The Over-Functioning Parent
Posted by leoterbieten in The Over-Functioning Parent on August 19, 2014
August Blog Over-Functioning. A childhood survival adaptation gets replayed as an adult. I often see clients, experiencing divorce or separation, who are simply not comfortable with asserting their concerns or desires in the custody process. Their reluctance has antecedents in childhood. If, as a child, you adapt to your environment by having to take care […]
Custody Cases Involving Adolescents
Posted by leoterbieten in Adolescent Issues on July 29, 2014
The testimony of adolescents in Child Custody cases in which they are a party is weighed heavily by the Courts and Family Court services staff. Children are often interviewed as part of the custody process. These interviews may be with mediators, recommending counselors, custody evaluators, minors’ counsel or the hearing officer. California Rule of Court […]
The Changing Landscape of Family Court Services Part 2
Posted by leoterbieten in Family Court Services part II on June 4, 2014
Recommending Mediation Programs Family courts are increasingly turning to recommending counseling programs to assist them in processing cases. The huge increase in self-represented litigants requires a different approach to contested custody cases. A recommending family court services program gives the hearing officer an objective, clinical assessment of the family’s dynamics as well as specific recommendations […]
The Changing Landscape of family Court Services Part 1
Posted by leoterbieten in Family Court Services part I on May 30, 2014
Family Court Services: Recommending versus Non-Recommending Programs Family courts choose the type of intervention they wish to use in assessing contested custody cases. The methods range from pure custody mediation to recommending custody counseling. There are pros and cons to both approaches. These services are generally free of charge and each court usually has a […]
Recognizing the Stress of Divorce
Posted by leoterbieten in Divorce and stress on May 7, 2014
As I’m sure you’re aware, the most serious damage done to kids is being exposed to conflict between their parents. Conflict experienced in an intact family is just as toxic as conflict experienced in a divorced family. In my opinion, staying in an unhealthy or abusive relationship for the sake of the children is misguided […]
The Custody Process . . . in the Best Interests of the Children
Posted by leoterbieten in The custody process on April 7, 2014
The divorce and family law process demands that during the most intense shock and sadness of divorce we reach agreement on or fight for the most important issues of our lives – our children and our financial resources. Every state and county family court system has its own culture and priorities. The one constant is […]
A Guide to the Child Custody Process
Posted by leoterbieten in The Custody Manual on April 1, 2014
I’d like to share some thoughts about the child custody process and a new book that I hope will be helpful to parents with children going through separation or divorce. The Custody Manual is a practical guide to the child custody process. A clear, concise handbook, it explains what to expect and how to avoid […]
Leo Terbieten, M.A., MFT 