By Sybil Cummin, MA, LPC, ACS Maintaining a meaningful connection with your child when stuck in a “high-conflict” co-parenting situation can be a daunting task, especially if they spend more time with your ex-partner. Strategies will be different depending on the age of your child, so in this article we’re going to share strategies specifically for older kids that can help bridge the emotional gap and foster a sense of connection despite the circumstances. If you believe that there is a strong likelihood that your child is being indoctrinated to believe lies about you, these strategies can help but likely will not be enough to completely challenge that level of conditioning. Stay tuned for future articles where we will go into more detail on these cases. Understanding the Dynamics Navigating the complexities of maintaining a connection with your child when they spend more time with your ex-partner means taking a look at various factors. The age and development of the child, your pre-existing relationship, and their feelings toward the living situation all play a crucial role. The strategies in this article are tailored for older kids, with the understanding that these can be adapted for younger children.
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Reshaping The Family Court System for Survivors of Narcissistic Abuse: Lessons from Lundy Bancroft8/15/2023
By Sybil Cummin, MA, LPC, ACS
In the high-stakes arena of family court, where the well-being of children should be in the forefront of everyone’s minds, survivors of domestic violence and narcissistic abuse are often ignored or even punished for trying to protect their children.
Navigating legal proceedings with an abusive ex can feel like an endless battle. In Episode 60 of The Rising Beyond Podcast, Beyond Legislation: Reshaping Family Court with Lundy Bancroft, our expert guest shines a spotlight on the systemic challenges and the potential pathways to a reformed family court that truly protects the vulnerable. There are so many lessons that we can take away from this episode that features Lundy Bancroft, a leading authority on interventions for abusive men and passionate advocate for women survivors. I wanted to give you all the “Cliffs Notes” version of the top three takeaways that promise to reshape your understanding of family law, advocacy, and healing. By Sybil Cummin, MA, LPC, ACS Do y’all remember that ridiculous spectacle of Charlie Sheen where he basically coined the term “Winning!” It shined a spotlight on his mental health state and was also annoying in my opinion. And it feels remarkably similar to how a narcissistic ex acts after the relationship has ended and they have found ways to manipulate the family court system. So, what does it mean in your ex’s world to win?
The difficult part about this entire situation is that the way that our family court system is set up allows and actually seems to encourage these behaviors. By Sybil Cummin, MA, LPC, ACS Having a hard time falling asleep worrying about your kids? How are they doing in school? Are they making healthy friends? Am I preparing them for all that life throws at them? Does worry about how your child is coping with the new parenting plan or worry about their safety at the other home keep you up all night and hypervigilant all day? You are not alone. Parents worry a ton in general, however if you have experienced domestic violence or narcissistic abuse or are dealing with family court with your abuser, this is likely not an every-now-and-then issue. You are probably chronically losing sleep. Is there anything we can do about it? |
AuthorSybil Cummin, MA, LPC, ACS, is a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in working with victims and survivors of narcissistic abuse. Archives
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