Dear Members,
We are excited to bring you the latest updates and events from the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) Indiana Chapter. AFCC is the premier interdisciplinary and international association of mental health and legal professions dedicated to the resolution of family conflict.
Early Intervention in Coparent Conflict
Kevin R. Byrd, Ph.D.
As I believe most AFCC members know, coparent conflict and hostility are highly toxic to the mental health of the children involved. I can provide the reader with a long list of supporting research articles upon request. The study I most often cite in my work is that of Karberg and Cabrera (2020). They studied 3,387 divorced families and found compelling evidence that the relationship between the coparents is more important than the parent-child relationships for children’s social adjustment.
Unfortunately, research investigating the relationship between the chronicity of the coparent conflict and the seriousness of the resulting mental health crisis for the child(ren) is lacking. However, we do know that, in general, the longer a stressor continues unabated, the worse the mental health outcome. Therefore, there is little doubt that we can reduce the impact of coparent conflict on children with effective early intervention in cases that appear to be headed toward chronic coparent conflict. I am defining early intervention herein as court-ordered legal and mental health services enacted as soon as there are indications of coparent conflict for which the parents lack the psychosocial resources to resolve on their own.
One of the early hurdles to incorporating early intervention is establishing a fair and systematic way of identifying (screening) coparents who are likely to engage in chronic conflict – before the conflict has become chronic. At its simplest level, this would involve a list of criteria or “red flags” that signify that a long, adversarial custody battle is at hand. We do not currently possess the research on which to base such a list. However, below are some possible criteria taken from my experience, training, and collegial interactions. These criteria would likely be assessed by the judicial officer or a special committee assigned for this purpose.
- One or both parents describe the other in exclusively negative terms. They are often more invested in badmouthing the other parent than in promoting themselves as competent parents.
- Complaints about the other parent are often vague and/or unverifiable.
- One or both parents are in therapy with a practitioner unschooled in providing services in a litigious environment. This often entails an “echo chamber” in which unwholesome attitudes toward the other parent are simply mirrored and left unchallenged by the therapist.
- Accusations of domestic violence or sexual assault.
- The child is already manifesting mental health problems, including behavioral problems.
- The parents are uncompromising and stubborn with regard to relatively minor issues.
- One or both parents respond to the other with the three Vs: vehemence, vitriol, and venom.
- A history of DCS investigations, law enforcement interventions, protective orders, or no contact orders.
- Accusations of parental alienation (regardless of their veracity).
- “Crystal ball gazing.” This is when one parent assumes he or she knows how the other will behave. For instance, “If I allow my husband/wife to have a weekday overnight, s/he will never get the child to school on time the next morning.”
- “Mind reading.” In these cases, one parent presumes to know the intentions, motivations, thoughts, and feelings of the other. For instance, “S/he is just pretending to be nice toward me.”
The other major question to address is how to intervene. I can only paint in broad strokes due to limitations of time and space. However, here are a few thoughts:
- Child-Informed Mediation.
- On-line coparenting or parenting courses recognized by experts as being effective. These would include “On-Line Parenting Programs” and “Online Divorce Education.” It is unlikely that an online course would be sufficient in itself to prevent chronic coparent struggles, but it might be an important “ingredient.”
- Coparent coaching. I prefer the term “coaching” over “counseling” because coaching captures the largely didactic nature of this intervention.
- Individual therapy with providers trained in high conflict divorce dynamics.
- Brief Focused Assessments.
- Parenting coordination or Guardian Ad Litem appointment.
- Schedule a hearing to review progress rather than waiting for the parents to litigate. The hearing can always be canceled if the parents agree that they are making progress. Parents will be more adherent to orders and recommendations if they know the court will be reviewing their behavior.
- If more than one therapist is involved with the family system, arrangements for brief, regular case conferences will help to maintain focus on the most important issues and exchange useful clinical information between therapists.
I am not politically or legally savvy enough to know what systemic changes would be necessary to move our family courts toward an early intervention model. I can only say that I believe effective early intervention policies would have multiple benefits: better mental health outcomes for the children and parents, less expense, and less time in court.*
*Although there may be some “front loaded” court oversight in an early intervention environment, over the long haul I believe the courts would find that they will see fewer cases continuing for years and years.
Member Spotlight
Annette Kreider, MSW, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker | Private Practice Clinician| Co-Parent Coach | Trained Parenting Coordinator | Trained Domestic Mediator
Annette Kreider holds a Master of Social Work degree from Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis (1997) and a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Purdue University (1993). With over 25 years of experience in mental health and substance use treatment, Annette has worked across diverse settings including acute hospitals, community mental health centers, residential treatment centers, group homes, outpatient clinics, and private practice.
Her clinical expertise spans all levels of substance use care—ranging from inpatient detoxification to outpatient and residential treatment programs. In addition to direct clinical work, she has held key administrative roles such as Director of Clinical Services and Operations, where she developed programs and strengthened collaborative relationships with referral sources and community partners.
For 15 years, Annette maintained a part-time private practice specializing in co-parenting coaching, reunification therapy, and support for families navigating high-conflict divorce and custody-related challenges. Since November 2024, she has transitioned to full-time private practice, integrating her broad mental health and substance use experience with her passion for helping families improve communication and relationships during times of transition.
Committed to family-centered care, Annette emphasizes the importance of collaborative relationships and effective communication to provide comprehensive support to individuals and their families.
Outside of her professional work, she is a devoted mother of three adult children and enjoys playing tennis and pickleball. She also values quality time with family and friends, often engaging in recreational activities like card games, puzzles, and art projects with her mother at the nursing home.
Kelly Lonnberg
Thank you for highlighting me this month!
I am a Member at Stoll Keenon Ogden’s Evansville office and serve as chair of the firm’s Family Law practice and Co-Chair of the Arbitration & Mediation practice group. I joined SKO in 2017 as part of the firm’s merger with Bamberger, Foreman, Oswald & Hahn. I am a Certified Family Law Specialist, as certified by the Indiana Family Law Certification Board, and a registered Family Law Mediator. I have focused my practice on high asset and business interest divorces, but these days I am transitioning my practice to mediation.
I have training and experience in collaborative practice, which provides options to minimize conflicts, consulting as needed with financial planners and other 3rd-party resources.
Mediation is a large part of my practice, and I work both with represented parties and parties who have not yet or may not retain counsel, to determine what issues they can resolve by agreement and help them reduce those agreements to writing.
I also assists clients through four other practice groups at the firm, including Business Litigation, Arbitration & Mediation, Trusts & Estates, and Tort, Trial & Insurance.
I have enjoyed membership in AFCC for many years, and consider its continuing education the best around.