Parent Reunification Program Overview
Your Counselling’s Parent Reunification Program is designed to support families navigating the complex process of re-establishing parent-child relationships after a period of separation. Whether due to divorce, child welfare involvement, estrangement, or family conflict, the reunification journey requires thoughtful guidance, emotional safety, and structured support.
Grounded in trauma-informed, child-centred, and attachment-based principles, this program provides a neutral and professional setting where healing, reconnection, and relationship repair can occur at a pace that honours the needs of each family member.
Our Approach
The program is delivered by experienced Registered Social Workers and therapists with specialized training in:
- Attachment and family systems – understanding how early attachment experiences and family roles influence current relationships, with a focus on fostering secure, healthy connections within the family unit
- Trauma-informed care and grief recovery – sensitive, supportive approaches that acknowledge the impact of trauma and loss, helping individuals and families process difficult experiences and rebuild a sense of safety and resilience
- Parent-child relational repair – therapeutic support to rebuild trust, improve communication, and strengthen emotional bonds between parents and children following conflict, disconnection, or stress
- High-conflict family dynamics – strategies to reduce tension, improve boundaries, and support healthier patterns of interaction in families experiencing ongoing conflict, separation, or complex relational challenges
All services are provided in accordance with ethical guidelines, with a strong emphasis on prioritizing the voice and safety of the child throughout every phase of the reunification process.
What Does the Parent Reunification Program Entail?
1) INDIVIDUAL PREPARATION SESSIONS
One-on-one sessions with parents and children to explore readiness, address concerns, and build the foundation for reunification work.
2) THERAPEUTIC REUNIFICATION SESSIONS
Joint sessions facilitated by a clinician focused on re-establishing connection, improving communication, and supporting emotional safety.
3) PARENT COACHING AND PSYCHOEDUCATION
Support for parents in understanding child development, attachment disruptions, emotional needs, and trauma-informed parenting strategies.
4) PROGRESS MONITORING AND FEEDBACK
Regular reviews of family progress with clear therapeutic goals, collaborative planning, and transparent communication with involved professionals (with consent).
5) COLLABORATION WITH EXTERNAL SUPPORTS
Where appropriate, we coordinate with social workers, medical providers, or legal teams to ensure continuity of care and uphold the best interests of the child.
Who is the Parent Reunification Program For?
This program is designed to support:
- Parents and children who have experienced a prolonged separation
- Families involved with child welfare or under supervision orders
- Parents seeking therapeutic support to rebuild or restore contact with a child
- Children navigating mixed emotions around reunification
- Co-parents looking to support family transitions with a focus on the child’s wellbeing
Get Started With Parent Reunification
Referrals may come from:
- Families and caregivers (self-referral encouraged)
- Alberta Children’s Services and child welfare teams
- Family lawyers and mediators
- Schools and community organizations
- A brief intake process and readiness assessment will be conducted to ensure the program is a good fit for each family’s needs