Why repairing harm matters
When conflict or rupture hits a family, it doesn’t just affect two people—it shifts the whole family system. Kids often absorb tension with behavior changes, anxiety, or pulling away. Adults can get stuck in survival mode, repeating the same arguments. Repairing harm restores trust, lowers stress, and gives everyone a shared map for moving forward. In practical terms, repair:
- Stabilizes the home climate so kids can regulate, learn, and attach securely.
- Rebuilds trust through truth-telling, accountability, and predictable follow-through.
- Reduces escalation by installing healthier communication patterns.
- Clarifies roles and routines so each person knows what to expect.
How it works
- Family Restoration Assessments - brief intake + individual check-ins to map strengths, stressors, and safety.
- Restorative Family Meetings - structured conversations to name harm, hear impact, and agree to next steps.
- Co-Parenting Plans - clear agreements on communication, handoffs, decisions, and boundaries.
- Parent Coaching - routines, regulation support, and conflict-deescalation skills at home.
- Child & Teen Support - developmentally attuned sessions to process feelings, practice skills, and feel heard.
- Ongoing Review - short, focused follow-ups to reinforce change and adjust the plan.
How we communicate during repair
We combine evidence-aligned, trauma-informed methods to keep conversations brave, structured, and safe:
- Restorative Practices
(harm → impact → needs → agreements) - Emotion Coaching
- Collaborative Problem Solving
- Nonviolent Communication
(NVC) micro-skills - Boundaries & Accountability
A typical pathway (6-10 weeks)
- Week 1 - Intake & Safety Map
- Week 2 - Story & Impact
- Weeks 3-4 - Skills & Structure
- Weeks 5-6 - Agreements & Repair
- Weeks 7-8 - Practice & Review
- Weeks 9-10 - Consolidate & Future-proof
What your child experiences
- A predictable space to name feelings, ask questions, and learn skills (breathing, thought reframes, “stop-name-choose”).
- Consistent adult messages (no triangulation) and no pressure to carry adult feelings.
- Clear routines across homes, with visual schedules and simple when-then expectations.
Sample tools we’ll teach and install
- Handoff scripts
- Two-house rules
- Repair language
- Kid-friendly resotrative questions
Safety & Suitability
We proceed only when the setting is physically and psychologically safe. If there’s active coercion, untreated substance use, or ongoing violence, we’ll stabilize with individual treatment and safety planning first and coordinate with appropriate services. Repair is chosen, not forced.
Outcomes you can expect
- Fewer blow-ups; faster recovery when conflict happens
- Clearer boundaries and responsibilities, with less rehashing
- Kids who feel heard, secure, and predictable across homes
- Practical agreements you can keep—and a routine to maintain them
FAQ
Is this therapy or mediation?
Parts will feel therapeutic and parts will feel like structured mediation. We keep a child-centered lens and coordinate with your therapists or legal agreements as needed.
What if we disagree about “the facts”?
We don’t adjudicate the past; we acknowledge impact and build forward-looking agreements that protect kids and clarify adult responsibilities.
Can kids attend?
Yes, in developmentally appropriate segments. Adult conflict work happens without kids present; kids participate to share impact and needs and to hear agreed changes.