Parental Strife Harms Children’s Mental Health

A parent sees the physician, complaining of a child’s behaviour and possibly even somatic concerns. The child may present with any number of issues such as, school anxiety, inattention, depression, anxiety, social withdrawal, aggressive behaviour, non-compliance, substance abuse, headaches, and/or stomachaches. Attention is typically drawn directly to the child and …

The Ghost Dad Phenomenon

They are the ghost fathers, the ones who disappear from the lives of their children in the years following a divorce decision. According to experts, fatherlessness is an epidemic problem. But let me make a radical proposal: Rather than vilify them, which feels easy, perhaps we should try to understand …

When Can My Child Decide Where to Live?

A question I often hear is “How old does my child have to be before she can decide where she will live?” A derivative of that question also is “At what age can a child refuse to follow the custody schedule?” These are really two separate issues, but both seem …

Missouri’s Access Laws: A Model for the Nation

When a noncustodial parent is denied access to his or her child, the traditional recourse has been for that parent to file a contempt allegation with the court requesting a hearing and the court’s finding that the custodial parent is in contempt. This is often a long and drawn out …