Ashburn Psychological Services

Navigating Custody Schedules After Divorce: A Practical Guide for Virginia Parents For families facing separation or divorce, the most pressing question is rarely about money or property -- it’s about the children. How can we help them thrive? How do we build a bridge between two homes that supports their emotional, academic, and social growth? As a clinical psychologist working with families and attorneys in Northern Virginia, I hear these questions, or similar ones, every day in my practice. I’ve witnessed how a well-crafted parenting plan can act as a psychological scaffold for a child during a time of upheaval. [...]

Navigating Reunification Therapy: What Families and Attorneys Need to Know As a psychologist that frequently works with attorneys and families in Northern Virginia, I often get questions about reunification therapy -- especially when it’s court-ordered in cases of parent-child estrangement or high-conflict custody disputes. This process can feel overwhelming for parents and children alike, and it’s important to understand both its potential and its limits. What Is Reunification Therapy? Reunification therapy (RT) is a specialized therapeutic intervention designed to help repair and rebuild the relationship between a child and a parent after a period of high conflict and estrangement. While courts [...]

Do Women Still Win Custody More Often Than Men During Divorce? One of the most emotionally challenging aspects of divorce proceedings involves determining child custody. Historically, women have been awarded custody significantly more frequently than men, sparking important conversations about fairness and potential gender biases in family courts. Understanding why this happens, how decisions are made, and what's changing can empower both mothers and fathers to navigate the custody process more effectively. Regarding the history of custody decisions, throughout much of the 20th century, U.S. family courts operated under the influence of the "Tender Years Doctrine," which presumed mothers were [...]

Understanding Parental Alienation: Challenges and Guidance for Parents Parental alienation is a deeply painful experience, both for the parent being alienated and for the child caught in the middle. At its core, parental alienation refers to behaviors by one parent that aim to damage or sever the bond between a child and the other parent. These behaviors often include manipulation, spreading false narratives, or portraying the other parent in a consistently negative light. The concept of parental alienation gained significant attention in the 1980s when psychiatrist, Richard Gardner, introduced the term “Parental Alienation Syndrome” (PAS). Gardner described it as a [...]

What To Do If You Received A Poorly Conducted Or Biased Custody Evaluation The custody evaluation process is a critical juncture in determining the living arrangements and parenting responsibilities for children following a separation and divorce. The fairness and accuracy of this evaluation is paramount, as the outcome can significantly impact the emotional and psychological well-being of the children involved. A poorly conducted or biased evaluation can lead to unjust outcomes, affecting the parent-child relationship for years to come. So, what are the main signs of a poorly conducted or biased custody evaluation? The evaluation [...]

The Power Of Patience: The Importance Of Guiding Your Teen Through Emotional Growth Without Losing Your Cool The teenage years are a critical period of emotional development.  During this time, teenagers experience rapid changes in their bodies, brains, and social environments. These changes can often lead to emotional turbulence, confusion and poor choices/behaviors. As a parent, understanding the developmental challenges faced by your teen is the first step to providing him or her helpful and loving guidance and support. While the teenage years can be a challenging parenting time, remember that your son or daughter is going through a lot [...]

Finding Greater Joy In 2024 By Doing The Opposite Personal growth and change can happen in all sorts of ways; and, while we usually think of doing more (e.g., exercise) or less (e.g., eating fewer calories or drinking less) as the most optimal ways to achieve our goals, perhaps simply shifting our mindset and doing things differently is a good approach to take for 2024. In the 1990’s television sitcom, Seinfeld, the episode, “The Opposite,” did a fantastic job of capturing the value and importance of getting out of one’s way for meaningful change to occur.  In the episode, George [...]

Coping with Empty Nest Syndrome: Finding New Purpose as Parents Transitioning into the "empty nest" phase of life as parents is a significant rite of passage. As your children leave home (often for college), a whirlwind of emotions can ensue. The empty space where there was once laughter, chatter, and occasional teenage drama in the home is suddenly filled with silence. That’s a lot for many parents to handle, and it's normal to feel sadness, loss, and even anxiety about this new chapter. However, it's essential to remember that this unavoidable phase of life also offers parents opportunities for personal [...]