When a Child Resists a Parent: Breaking Down “Resist/Refuse Dynamics”

Episode Summary: In this episode, Attorney and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Caitlin Burgess delves into the complexities of child resist-refuse dynamics in family law matters post-separation or divorce. She highlights the multifactorial approach to assessing cases where a child resists contact with a parent, emphasizing the importance of understanding the entire family system to identify underlying causes. Caitlin also explores the emotional and fear-driven factors influencing children's resistance and shares insights on differentiating normal reactions from patterns requiring court intervention.

Key Timestamps:

- 00:00 – Introduction

- 01:30 – Definition of resist-refuse dynamics in family law

- 03:45 – Common circumstances leading to child resistance

- 05:20 – Emotions and fears driving resistance in children

- 08:10 – Distinguishing between natural reactions and serious patterns

- 10:15 – Utilizing forensic evaluations to assess child resistance

- 12:40 – Focusing on the child's experience over blame in court cases

- 14:50 – Implementing therapy in resist-refuse cases

- 17:25 – Collaborative approaches to keep focus on the child's best interest

- 19:00 – Building connections and security for the child in therapy

About the Show: *Bridging the Gap, Law, Therapy and Justice* is a podcast that explores the intersection of law and mental health, offering insights and solutions for families, attorneys, and courts dealing with high-conflict situations.