016: Parent-Child Contact Problems and What to Do: Insights from Clinical Psychologist Dr. Richard Spiegle

In this episode of Children First Family Law, Dr. Richard Spiegle, a renowned clinical and forensic psychologist, joins Krista to share his extensive experience in family law and child advocacy.

With a background in special education and a specialization in forensic psychology, Dr. Spiegle offers a unique perspective on the struggles that arise and the complexities involved in repairing parent-child relationships, emphasizing the need to focus on the importance to the wholeness of the child and his or her future adulthood in repairing relationships with a parent in almost all circumstances. Dr. Speigle explains the critically important view that parents must focus on relationships with children, not just parenting time, and the risk in family court that relational dynamics tend to be lost with an over emphasis on parenting time as the goal.  

Dr. Spiegle sheds light on the evolving landscape of family law, the introduction of new statutes and their impact, and mental health experts' roles in guiding families through crises. He highlights the importance of nurturing open communication and resolution in these delicate situations.

Throughout the episode, Dr. Spiegle relates impactful stories from his career, illustrating the effects of therapeutic interventions on families in distress. From addressing domestic violence to navigating estrangement and mental health issues, he underscores the necessity of creating safe environments for children to express themselves and the need for extremely careful approaches to therapeutic approaches to address parent-child contact problems.

This episode calls for systemic improvement, encouraging professionals to work together to support families and protect vulnerable children.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Dr. Richard Spiegle’s take on the complexities of family law and child advocacy
• Emotional and academic challenges children face long into adulthood when continued estrangement between a child and parent occurs and is not addressed
• Repairing fractured parent-child relationships, focusing on favored and disfavored parent dynamics
• The evolving role of mental health experts in family therapy and legal contexts
• Challenges of reintegration therapy and supervised parent-child interactions
• Addressing the needs and perspectives of children in cases of domestic violence and child abuse
• New statutes and their impact on parenting time and decision-making processes in family courts

Resources from this Episode

Dr. Richard Spiegle’s website: psychologistsdenvercolorado.com

www.childrenfirstfamilylaw.com

All states have different laws; be sure you are checking out your state laws specifically surrounding divorce. Krista is a licensed attorney in Colorado and Wyoming but is not providing through this podcast legal advice. Please be sure to seek independent legal counsel in your area for your specific situation. 

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Episode Credits

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