HELPING YOUR CHILD SUCCEED AFTER DIVORCE Florence Bienenfeld, Ph.D.*

Claremont, California: Hunter House, Inc., 1987,206 pages (paperback)

The author illustrates the power of mediation as a method for developing parenting plans and illustrates this with case histories. She also focuses on such areas as Joint Custody as a way of promoting on-going parent- child relationships and offers suggestions on building an even closer relationship with your child in the post- divorce family system. An important focus of this latest book is the chapter devoted to developing a support system for the child. This is further amplified with a chapter that provides parents with resources that can be of help to them in the crisis of divorce. One of the principal, most complete list of resources suggested is a national listing of the mediation and conciliation serv- ices that are available throughout the United States.

As with her other works, Dr. Bienenfeld comple- ments the instructional sections of the texts with con- crete case examples as well as illustrations from her extensive collection of drawings that have been done by

children with whom she has worked both as a mediator and a clinician. This is a work that is well worth recom- mending to parents as a practical, child focused book which can aid parents in focusing on the needs of the children both during and after the crisis of divorce.

Reviewed by E. Ronald Hulbert, Ph. D.

* Dr. Bienenfeld’s latest work in the area of divorce focuses on advice to parents regarding helping children avoid post- divorce conflict and continue healthy, happy relationships with each of their parents. The work is based on the au- thor’s clinical and mediation experience and is directed at educating parents in both a remedial and preventive way to alternative ways available for promoting the growth of their children and providing them with conflict free relationships with each parent.

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CONCILIATION COURTS REVIEW/VOLUME 26, NUMBER l/JUNE 1988