EPT5-Session1- High Conflict Divorce – Center for Experiential Play Therapy

Welcome to your EPT5-Session1- High Conflict Divorce

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The children most affected by high conflict divorce are the adolescents that are ready to disengage from the family system.

True

False

One of the results of high conflict divorce for young children is:

The development of a personality disorder in adulthood.

The development of resentment for the high conflict parent.

An incentive to strive harder in their chosen occupation.

A more positive outlook on life.

The high conflict person (HCP) is more interested in the feelings of their spouse than in the feelings of their children.

True

False

A characteristic of the high conflict person (HCP) is:

After the divorce process has gone to court, this person apologies for their behavior.

This person is the most nurturing parent because s/he is most dedicated to their children.

The HCP usually does not change their behavior during or after court proceedings.

The HCP has more skills in social conflict resolution and therefore is right most of the time.

Divorce causes an identity crisis for the child

True

False

In high conflict divorce, one parent is most likely to have a personality disorder.

True

False

In the DVD of Chris, The HCP was represented by:

The shark that chased the baby dolphin onto the beach.

The two worms digging in the wet sand.

The salamander having to live in the dry land.

The giant dolphin, which eat the shark.

When Chris is talking about his mother’s life of living in the islands, he makes a statement, “There’s a song I like to hear on my dad’s car radio.” This statement seems out of the blue, but most likely means:

If I live with my mother, I will remember that my dad is alone when he drives.

I have a favorite song that reminds me of riding in my dad’s car.

Music is a major part of my life.

Being with my father is where I’d rather be.

The child’s struggle with divorce ends when the non-HCP finds a new relationship that is satisfying, so that the child doesn’t have to rescue that parent’s emotionally.

True

False

Which is NOT true about the effect of divorce on children?

For the child, the divorce is the loss that never ends.

If the oldest child is female, the younger children experience less distress from the HCD.

Divorce causes an identity crisis for the child.

The child has to grieve the loss of their family of origin.

About 24-30% of divorce cases are high conflict divorces.

True

False

Children who have endured the divorce of their parents are NOT characterized as:

More likely to experience anxiety or depression later in life.

Complete less education than persons whose parents do not get divorced.

Are interpersonally more astute when their family has a social conflict to resolve.

Have a more negative outlook on their potential in life.

In high conflict divorce situations, 50% of the HCPs receive the custody of the children.

True

False

Which is NOT a characteristic of the HCP:

Exhibits feelings of entitlement.

Displays empathy for the concerns of the children.

Uses manipulation to distort the issues in the divorce.

Is an all-or-nothing thinker.

Which is NOT a treatment goal for a child whose parents have divorced and is struggling with their adjustments to the process:

Focus on and reduce the alienation experience of the child.

Help the child realize that they did nothing to cause the divorce.

Review all of the divorces that have occurred in the family system for at least three generations.

Provide a trusting environment where the child can share the pain and anguish that’s being experienced.

Children whose parents get divorced have physiological reactions like:

Somatic difficulties like headaches and stomachaches.

Sleep disturbances with nightmares having themes of being lost or abandoned.

Regressive behaviors like thumb sucking or bedwetting.

All of the above.

The boy, Chris in the DVD, calls the boat that is looking for sea life in the ocean a “stupid boat”. A meaning of this statement represents that he hates that his mother in involved with another man and is starting a new life

True

False

The most critical issue for a child in a HCD is the alienation of the child from one or both parents.

True

False

In Chris’s play expressions, the scuba diver represented the man who took his mother away and ruined his family and home life.

True

False

The most obvious or direct way that Chris showed that the conflict was with his mother, rather than with his father was represented by:

Airplane crashes were used to show his resistance to visiting his mother.

Sea life represented unconscious feelings that he was being abandoned.

The conflict scene was at the ocean where his mother resides.

The session focused on his mother and the better life she could provide.

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