Craig Everett

Gain new understanding of the role that the children of divorce play within their own family systems. Unlike most other literature on the subject, Children of Divorce studies--both empirically and clinically--the role of the children within the dysfunctional pattern of the dissolving family system. The unique and insightful perspectives in this volume equip practitioners and clinicians with the skills to help children cope with the pain and the adjustments they experience during and after a divorce. Experts in the marriage and family field explore the developmental, structural, and interactional issues for the benefit of all professionals seeking to more effectively understand and treat the children who are so adversely affected by divorce.

Professionals who work with divorcing couples and their families will be inspired by this important book on effective clinical assessment and intervention. The book blends a variety of expert contributions--descriptive, theoretical, and empirical--into a practical handbook that focuses on resources for dealing with the anger and pain of parting spouses and disrupted childhoods. A rich array of clinically useful materials is provided. The book covers background theory, marital interaction, the definition of clinical dysfunctions in children of divorce, specific clinical features of childhood developmental levels, post-divorce reorganization, and models of group work.

Here is an excellent introduction to and overview of the field of divorce mediation, a field that has grown rapidly and achieved a remarkable level of recognition among both the clinical and legal professions in the last decade. Divorce Mediation describes the process and some of the techniques of mediation, as well as mediation theory and training. Authorities from marriage and family therapy and law--all practicing mediators--address the ability of women to negotiate for themselves in mediation, describe several approaches to handling custody issues, and discuss several challenging issues facing the profession, including who should practice mediation, what are the boundaries and ethics of practice, and how does mediation relate to the traditional disciplines of law, psychology, marriage and family therapy, and social work. Summaries of actual case studies are especially helpful in illustrating how mediators accomplish their negotiations.