- Emotional support
-
Family violence support
- Are your children at risk?
- Child abuse
- Family violence orders
- Handing over children where there's potential for conflict or violence
- Planning ahead
- Support for children
- Support for me
- What the police can do
- What to do if you or your children are in danger
- What happens if you leave the family home
- What to do if you suspect child abuse
- Financial support
- Legal support
Dealing With Conflict
Conflict is like a knot in a rope - emotionally binding two people together. Ending the conflict is getting rid of the knot. Some knots are simple and take very little effort to untie. Others are very complicated and may be very difficult. Others may seem impossible, but remember:
If the knot was tied, it can be untied!
It’s easier to untie a knot if you stop pulling on it. It’s even easier if both stop pulling and both start untying. One or both of you may decide to stop pulling the rope and just drop it. The knot will remain, but it will no longer be a force in your lives.
In conflict, we usually know what we don’t want, rather than what we do want.
The most common types of issues that can create conflict between both parents following separation include:
- Parenting arrangements.
- Relationship issues.
- Financial arrangements.
- Legal issues.
Follow these steps to reach a win-win situation for both parents.
Step 1 — Describe the conflict
- Why is this an issue?
- Has it gone on for a long time?
- Who is involved?
- What’s really the problem?
- When does this usually happen?
Step 2 — What happens if
- It’s never sorted out?
- One of us gives in?
Step 3 — Describe and rank the options to resolve this conflict
| Options | Pros | Cons |
Likely to happen?
(1=highest, 5=lowest) |
|---|---|---|---|
Step 4 — Prioritise and decide
- Is this the best solution?
- Is there something else we need to consider?
- Will this reduce the number of conflicts?
Step 5 — Action plan
- Agree on a timeframe for action.
- Agree to check it is working.