Family court ordered “reunification therapy:” junk science in the guise of helping parent/child relationships?

ABSTRACT

This Commentary addresses the issue of the ethics of mental health professionals recommending or doing what family courts and some others are calling “Reunification Therapy.” This is often being recommended and used across the country, and ordered by family courts, as if it has a scientific basis for successful therapy between an estranged parent and a child who does not wish to re-engage with that parent, often where the child has alleged the parent has abused them physically, sexually, or psychologically. This Commentary challenges the ethics and validity of such approaches and programs.

KEYWORDS:

• Daubert
• ethics
• Frye
• junk science
• psychological services
• psychology
• reasonable
• reunification therapy