Building Healthy Bonds for Children

By SUSAN GRIFFIN Most co-parents are aware of the challenges children have with coping skills when the conflict between their parents continues after the separation/divorce. Some children feel caught in the middle of this conflict and feel pressured to choose one of their parents over the other one. Coping with this loyalty conflict is a […]

Written by on May 4, 2021

CA Family Court Rules

Standard 5.20. Uniform standards of practice for providers of supervised visitation (a) Scope of service This standard defines the standards of practice, including duties and obligations, for providers of supervised visitation under Family Code sections 3200 and 3200.5. Unless specified otherwise, the standards of practice are designed to apply to all providers of supervised visitation, whether the provider […]

Written by on May 4, 2021

Is it Child Abuse?

By SUSAN GRIFFIN A 5 year old returns to his mother’s house and asks his step-father, “does my mommy really love my daddy more than she loves you?” An 8 year old returns from a week-end spent with her father, and tells her mother “it’s your fault that daddy doesn’t have any money anymore.” A […]

Written by on May 4, 2021

What is Co-Parenting? Part II

By SUSAN GRIFFIN PART II: Co-Parenting Is for Every Parent We now move forward with a clearer understanding that Co-Parenting is happening in all families around the world. Parents are naturally emotional about their children. It is important that parents make a commitment to learn to separate their Emotional Mind from their Wise Mind. Making […]

Written by on May 3, 2021

San Diego Parenting Helpline

The San Diego Parenting Helpline is a free community resource offered by Hannah’s House. 1-833-OUR-KIDZ, 7 days/week, 8 a.m.- 8 p.m.. The helpline provides free counseling and assistance for San Diego families and offers up to one hour of free Telehealth counseling for parents who are new to Hannah’s House. Therapists are trained to assist callers dealing with parenting challenges, […]

Written by on May 3, 2021

Supervised Exchanges: Supporting Families During Breakup, Part II

by SUSAN GRIFFIN, LMFT AND DENNIS WONG, PHD   Supervised exchanges shelter children from unexpected incidents of parental tension and conflict and the results end up positive for everyone: Children can learn, through practice, to go back and forth between their two homes feeling safe and secure and happy, knowing they will not have to […]

Written by on September 26, 2020

The Power of the Human-Animal Bond

by SUSAN GRIFFIN, LMFT AND DENNIS WONG, PHD Antoine and Veronica, 5 year-old twins, had not seen their mother in 6 months. Mom had developed an alcohol problem which resulted in a car accident with the children in the car. She was charged with child endangerment, a DUI, and enrollment in a 1 year intervention […]

Written by on September 24, 2020

Thoughtful Understanding Begins with Parents

by SUSAN GRIFFIN, LMFT AND DENNIS WONG, PHD   For better or worse, children learn from everything and everyone around them. They are sponges, soaking up knowledge through listening and observing. One of the strongest methods of learning for children is role play and imitation. They also learn by carefully observing what and who their […]

Written by on September 23, 2020

Protect Quiet Routines

by SUSAN GRIFFIN, LMFT AND DENNIS WONG, PHD   All of our lives are hectic – full of demands that create the need for quick assessment of complex issues and equally swift changes in direction. Sometimes the changes are physical, sometimes mental and other times emotional. Sometimes the changes are something that we were anticipating […]

Written by on September 23, 2020

Mold Natural Opportunities

by SUSAN GRIFFIN, LMFT AND DENNIS WONG, PHD   Effective parenting doesn’t just happen. Neither do good grades, good friends, good relationships, or a good life. Sure, sometimes luck and fate conspire to present us with a chance at something special. But for the most part, we create our good fortune by molding the natural […]

Written by on September 22, 2020