What Does it Mean to Have Supervised Visitation?

Supervised visitation allows parents in high conflict or high risk situations access to their children in a safe and supervised environment. The noncustodial parent has access to the child only when supervised by another adult.

The public policy of the state of California is to protect the best interest of children whose parents have a custody or visitation matter in family court. Sometimes, based on issues of protection and safety, a judge will order that a child only have contact with a parent when a neutral third person is present during the visitation. This type of third-person visitation arrangement is often called “supervised visitation.”

A judge may order supervised visitation for many reasons, like:

• To give the visiting parent a chance to address specific issues

• To help reintroduce a parent and a child after a long absence

• To help introduce a parent and a child when there has been no existing relationship between them

• When there is a history or allegations of domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, or substance abuse

• When there are parenting concerns or mental illness

• When there is a parental threat of abduction.

The court order will specify the time and duration of the visits. Sometimes, the court order will also specify who will provide the supervised visitation services and where the visits will take place.

How Does Supervised Visitation Work?

Supervised Visitation, Sometimes, based on issues of protection and safety, a judge will order that a child only have contact with a parent when a neutral third person is present during the visitation. This type of third-person visitation arrangement is often called “supervised visitation.”

What is Reunification Therapy?

The main goal of reunification therapy is to reintroduce a parent (or parents) back into a child’s life in a safe, controlled, and therapeutic manner. The process of reunification therapy can be a very long one, but it designed to ensure a safe environment for the children and parents involved to create a new and secure bond with one another under the close supervision of a clinician. The most important idea of reunification therapy is the long-term goal of reconnecting the parent and child for a long-lasting bond.

The process begins with choosing a clinician who is qualified and knowledgeable in the family law and mental health field. Once a clinician is chosen any court orders, parenting plans, settlements, court motions, DCF or child welfare documentations, any police reports, prior psychological evaluations or mental health records, as well as common information for all individuals and children involved must be reviewed by the clinician. This will ensure that the clinician is aware of the entire situation to better create a safe and unique treatment plan for the family.

The next step in the process is to meet with each parent and child separately. After meeting with both parents, the clinician must then work with the custodial parent to guide them towards allowing the participation and involvement of the alienated parent in the reunification process. This stage typically involves multiple sessions to gather information and therapeutic sessions as well as parenting education for the alienating parent to become aware of the benefits of having both parents involved in the children’s lives.

Can the Court Deny Visitation Rights?

Although state courts are increasingly moving toward joint custody arrangements after divorce, the old standard of one parent having physical custody and the other having visitation still exists. Under some circumstances, a court might deny visitation, but a custodial parent can't do so; on her own.