Divorce Advice for Men | Fathers Rights Divorce | Child Custody

Question:

I am looking for divorce tips for men on how to enforce court orders.

I am supposed to have court-ordered counseling with my children in an effort to rebuild my relationship with them due to years of my ex-wife's parental alienation. 

However, since my ex has primary child custody and the counseling falls during her parenting time, she is refusing to take the children.

What can I do to get this court order enforced so I can have counseling with my children?

By Jennifer Knudtson

Board Member, Children’s Rights Council of Illinois

My journey with support groups started shortly after I married, when I joined one for stepmoms.

The reassurance I felt from having other faces in the room, all nodding in agreement while I spoke about our blended family issues, was immeasurable. 

My husband David's divorce and child custody case was highly contentious and went to trial.

As I watched my husband's case unfold in the family law court system, my eyes were opened to the many opportunities for reform including the "winner take all" mentality that subverts the children's needs to that of the parents. 

By Robert Ferrer

Archivist and Principle Researcher, University of Illinois

As I mentioned in my previous column about Parental Alienation Awareness Month, Parental Alienation Syndrome is currently under consideration to be included as either a "mental disorder" or a "relational problem" in the fifth edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, also known as DSM-5.

The inclusion would go a long way toward creating awareness and helping children and families affected by this disorder. (Read "10 Facts About Parental Alienation.")

DSM-5 is published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and provides a common language and standard criteria for the classification of mental disorders. The DSM-5 is scheduled for release in 2013. 

I would make three recommendations once PAS is included in the DSM-5:

April is Parental Alienation Awareness Month and Monday, April 25, is the sixth annual Parental Alienation Awareness Day designed to spread the word about this form of child abuse.

One of those leading the efforts is Jill Egizii, who is an author and also the president of the Parental Alienation Awareness Organization.

She shared with DadsDivorce.com editor Matt Allen details about the awareness day and what is currently being done to address this issue.

You can learn more about Egizii and her organization by visiting the Parental Alienation Awareness Organization website.

Click the link for the full audio version of the podcast on parental alienation.

By Michael Doherty

Chairman, Children’s Rights Council of Illinois

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Child abuse, both physical and sexual, has declined significantly over the past 15 years thanks to a concerted effort by advocacy organizations, government agencies, and compassionate judges.

Another form of child abuse is still common, though. It involves the minimization of a child’s attachment to a parent through sometimes subtle manipulation.

This insidious form of child abuse, called Parental Alienation, can have serious long-term mental health impacts ranging from chronic insecurity to depression and tragically, even suicide.