Dr. Thorpe specializes in forensic psychology, focusing on families involved in divorce and family court matters. Her expertise lies in providing evaluations and therapeutic interventions, tailored to address complex parenting and co-parenting challenges during and after separation or divorce.
Forensic Interventions
Helping Families Navigate Complex Challenges
Dr. Thorpe offers various interventions to support families during and after divorce. The main goal is to promote healthier family dynamics, reducing the conflict and prioritizing the well-being of children during a challenging time.
- Parent Coordination (On the Roster)
Parent coordinators help high-conflict families implement parenting plans and resolve child-related disputes without court involvement. Dr. Thorpe integrates education, communication skills, and conflict resolution to empower parents to make informed decisions. When an impasse persists, a recommendation will be provided with the rationale. The recommendations and parental agreements will be memorialized and the parents can use this as a guideline to move forward with clarity. This process can help reduce parents’ conflict and may shield children from exposure to disagreements. - Co Parent Counseling
This service fosters collaboration between parents by improving communication and addressing impasses that hinder effective co-parenting. Dr. Thorpe provides education, skill-building, and guidance to ensure decisions align with the child’s best interests. - Divorce Coaching/Therapeutic Mediation
Divorce coaching supports couples in managing the emotional and practical aspects of separation, aiming to reduce court involvement. As a neutral party, Dr. Thorpe facilitates respectful communication and helps parents prioritize their children’s well-being. Education about the psychological effects of divorce on adults and children is provided. Models of cooperative parenting are also detailed. The clients are encouraged to be goal directed and engage in collaborative problem-solving to support a healthy adjustment in their new post-divorce lives. - Family Intervention Therapy sometimes called Reunification
This intervention addresses parent-child contact problems, when a child resists or refuses contact with a parent. Following a proper screening for appropriateness, it centers around the belief that it is best for a child to have a meaningful relationship with both parents. Through individual and various combinations of joint family members, Dr. Thorpe helps to:- To foster healthy child adjustment
- To restore adequate parent functioning, parenting and roles
- To assist the parent to fully understand the needs of the child(ren) and the negative repercussions for the child(ren) of a severed and/or compromised relationship with a parent in the short term and extending to their lives as adults
- To work with family members where indicated to help them form more appropriate roles and boundaries
- To correct the child’s distortions and replace with realistic perceptions to reflect the child’s actual experience with both parents
- To assist the child to differentiate self from other and exercise age-appropriate autonomy
- To help each parent to distinguish valid concerns from overly negative, critical and generalized views relating to the other parent
- To assist parents to resolve relevant parent-child conflicts and develop effective co-parenting skills
- New Ways for Families: Designed to provide parents and children with skills for resilience during the transition of separation, divorce and post-divorce life
Why Choose Dr. Thorpe for Forensic Services?
Dr. Thorpe understands that divorce is one of the most challenging times in a family’s life. Her compassionate yet professional approach helps families transition smoothly while prioritizing the well-being of the children. She is dedicated to finding practical solutions that minimize conflict and promote healthier relationships.
Are Forensic Family Services Covered by My Mental Health Insurance?
No, they’re not. It’s also important to know that the rates for forensic services are typically higher than rates for psychotherapy. Also, a retainer is usually requested.
Forensic services are different from psychotherapy in that there is no identified patient, no clinical diagnosis is given and there are no CPT codes. Therefore, forensic clients aren’t able to submit claims to insurance.
Dr. Thorpe’s Forensic Family Training:
Dr. Thorpe has attended intensive courses including, but not limited to, those listed
below.
- Certified in Family Mediation, NJ Institute for Continuing Legal Education (ICLE), New Brunswick, NJ.
- Basic Interdisciplinary Collaborative Practice Training, Center for Mediation and Collaborative Divorce, Wall, NJ.
- Parent Coordinator Training, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC), Madison, WI
- Children and Divorce: The Voice of the Children and Interventions When Children Resist Parental Contact, AFCC, Madison, WI
- New Ways For Families, High Conflict Institute, San Diego, CA, a program helping families transition through separation/divorce
- Advanced Issues in Child Custody, AFCC, Madison, WI
- NJ Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC):Dr. Thorpe serves on the Board of Directors and is the Membership Chair (2022 – present).
Speaking topics:
Parent-Child Contact Problems, Affairs and Step-Parenting most recently at the AFCC national conference, ICLE and other psychology related venues.