Program Models

MODELS OF NEW WAYS FOR FAMILIES PROGRAMS:

There are several ways that the New Ways method can be used with potentially high-conflict families – or any family that wants to protect their children from conflict during or after their divorce. Parents or professionals can ask to use the New Ways method in any of the following models. They can start with New Ways with three counselors (two individual Parent Counselors and one Parent-Child Counselor), then determine who they want to have help them with decision-making (such as a mediator, collaborative divorce team, or two lawyers and a judge. Or they can start at any time if things get difficult during any of the following processes.

Court-based Model:

New Ways was specifically developed to help potentially high-conflict families that were active in the family court system. Ideally, judges, lawyers and counselors receive training in the use of the method and the ways that each profession can reinforce the key skills that parents are taught in New Ways. The method includes several paradigm shifts that only work if all professionals involved understand and reinforce the parents’ skills at each step of the legal process. The main requirements are that the counselors involved have received the 2-day training from a High Conflict Institute trainer and that they individually or their agencies have agreed to apply the method in a high-quality manner that will ensure consistency while we study this method. We encourage counselors and lawyers to form a committee with the local family law judiciary for maximum effectiveness of this new and different method. We require a licensing agreement for the use of the method.

Out-of-Court Model:

Agencies and groups of counseling professionals can provide the New Ways for Families method without involving the court, if they have received the 2-day training from a High Conflict Institute trainer and they (individually or their agencies) have agreed to apply the New Ways method in a high-quality manner that will ensure consistency while we study this method. We require a licensing agreement for the program to publically use the name “New Ways for Families” or something similar. All it takes is three or more counselors to apply this method using the Parent Workbook – ideally in coordination with lawyers and the local courts. It’s important to note that potentially high-conflict parents often will not participate in helping themselves, unless coerced to do so by a court order or other negative consequence.

Collaborative Divorce Model:

The New Ways method has been adapted to fit the Collaborative Divorce method, and can be used at any time in the collaborative divorce process. The team can recommend it or require it in order to work them in a collaborative divorce. This may help parents stay in the collaborative process, who would otherwise drop out and go to court. There is a special “Collaborative Parent Workbook” instead of the Parent Workbook used in the court-based model and out-of-court model.

Divorce Mediation Model:

New Ways for Families can be used at any time in the divorce mediation process, with a referral to trained therapist who work with the Collaborative Parent Workbook. A mediator can recommend or require that the parents participate in New Ways before finishing the mediation process. Or the mediator may encourage the parties to use New Ways to manage future conflicts after the mediation is over. Another alternative is for 3 therapists to assist a family using the New Ways method, then to refer them to a mediator also trained in the New Ways method.

Parenting Coordination Model:

Parenting Coordinators are usually involved in assisting high-conflict families after the court or the parties have made all of the big decisions about their parenting plans. A Parenting Coordinator assists with implementing those big decisions, rather than being involved in making them. Changes in weekend schedules, holidays, denial of parenting access, and other issues are commonly managed by the Parenting Coordinator. Parenting Coordinators are encouraged to recommend that the court order the family to go through the New Ways for Families program in their area, so that they have practice in using conflict resolution and communication skills to help them deal with new conflicts as they arise. Whenever the family approaches the Parenting Coordinator with a new problem, the Parenting Coordinator can guide them to use their skills in solving it, of possible.