Defusing the High-conflict Divorce: A Treatment Guide for Working with Angry Couples

It has been estimated that nearly twenty percent of the one million divorces each year in the U.S. involve high-conflict relationships. Angry, emotional disputes related to custody, parenting time, child support payments, visitation and more may go on for years. Who suffers? The children, mostly. Post-divorce conflict may be the most significant factor in adjustment (or maladjustment) for children of divorce. Defusing the High-Conflict Divorce offers a unique set of proven programs for quelling the hostility in high-conflict co-parenting couples, and ”defusing“ their prolonged, bitter and emotional struggles.

Bernard Gaulier, PhD, is Director of the Court Psychological Clinic (Family Division of the Circuit Court, Oakland County, Michigan). As a forensic psychologist in the field of juvenile justice and custody disputes, he has conducted numerous assessments and helped coordinate services regarding children and family issues.

Judith Margerum, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and Co-Director of the Michigan Family Institute. Dr. Margerum received her doctorate from the University of Detroit and has over 20 years experience working with families experiencing difficult problems. She provides professional consultation and training as well as therapy.

Jerome A. Price, MA, is the director and founder of the Michigan Family Institute. He is an internationally known brief therapist, teacher and consultant who is widely published. He is contributing author in several books, has written numerous articles, and is author of the books Power and Compassion and The Right to Be the Grownup. Price is an Approved Supervisor for the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

James Windell, MA, is a court psychologist at the Oakland County (Michigan) Circuit Court where he conducts group therapy with adolescent delinquents and treats high-conflict divorce couples. He is the author of several parenting and medical books, and his most recent book is The Fatherstyle Advantage. He writes a syndicated parenting column.