11/24/2024
John P***n, LCSW, Ph.D.
847-219-1877
Jpalen@johnpalenphd.com
Pre and Post-Divorce Coaching with Men
Individual Psychotherapy with Adults, Adolescents and Members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Co-parenting Counseling/Coaching
Consultation regarding the development of Parenting Plans
I’m pleased to inform you that I am expanding my coaching work with men experiencing divorce, particularly high conflict divorce. When I first meet these men, they are usually deeply depressed and feeling as though they just fell off a never-ending cliff. At the same time, they may be coping with
an Order of Protection taken out against them (with merit and sometimes without), and that more often than not includes their children.
Confused and bereft, they miss their children, whom they are often prohibited from seeing for a number of weeks.
These men usually don’t understand the legal system or the role of the GAL or Child Rep inevitably assigned to their case. They are frightened about losing contact with their kids and confused about the 604.b process that often ensues in these situations. In short, they feel lost in a mine field that they have no idea how to navigate. I see my role with them as primarily a coach informed by my clinical work over the years. We partner to move them along in the divorce process and in their process of individual growth that helps not only them, but by extension, their capacity to co-parent with their spouse over time.
My lifelong work as a therapist with adults, children and families has prepared me to work with individuals with an eye toward understanding the overall family system. In turn, that work has informed my twenty-five-year practice conducting child custody evaluations on behalf of the court. I have also worked with distraught couples in co-parenting counseling, Parent- Coordination, and on a limited basis, mediation.
I’ve collaborated with a number of attorneys over the years, which has been helpful to me in better understanding their perspectives; I hope that I’ve expanded their view of these men and their families as well. One of my goals of this work is to make it easier for the attorneys to focus on the legal issues, knowing that I’m helping their clients with the emotional aspects of separation, divorce, and issues related to their children. It should free up their time to focus on the work they were hired to undertake.
I’d be happy to answer any questions you and your colleagues may have.
Please contact me to discuss possible referrals to see if they are
