Family Law Specialists
Certified by the California Board of Legal Specialization
Marilynn W. Allemann, L.C.S.W.
LCS #19300
What Can Counseling Do for You?
The dissolution of a marriage or other relationship is difficult and painful for all involved. During this time, strong emotions may overwhelm you with feelings of sadness accompanied by hurt, anger, or guilt. Men may feel overly concerned with being financially exploited while women may feel powerlessness. Another source of pain and anguish involves the impact of divorce on the children of the relationship. While these feelings are normal they can be overwhelming and frightening. Seeking counseling can provide you with support, resources and improve your ability to cope with the stress and pressures as you progress through the process of divorce or reconciliation. Seeking counseling will also assist you in strengthening your ability to make major decisions effecting other family members, increase your problem solving skills, build your self confidence and empower you to begin to strengthen your existing marriage or relationship or move on to building a healthy new life.
Parents/Co-Parents/Shared Parenting/Shared Care Giving:
No matter what you call it, if you are making a change from a couple to a co-parent I can assist you in learning how to adapt and accept this new role by addressing issues such as:
Ending a relationship: the pain and the process
Retreating from intimacy: how to relate to the other parent/ex?spouse
Increasing resources for coping with stress
Enhancement of communication between co?parents, parent and child
Parenting styles: differences
Ways to provide the children security and continuity
Recreation (type of activities, movies or TV programs)
Money (spending, toys and gifts, "who pays")
Health (alternative medicine, nutrition, junk food, fast food)
Religious training and upbringing
Children: Change and Transitions
Children learn and develop through family support, social interaction and school experiences. Their emotional and physical well being are compromised by parenting conflict, separation and divorce. Every child is unique, so attempts to classify or predict behavior on basis of age can only be approximated. Reactions of same age children to change or transitions can vary. However, certain reactions cut across age lines and parents should be aware of these reactions:
Denial (e.g. belief that mom and dad will reunite)
Mistrust (about permanence of relationships)
Shame or embarrassment
Regressive behavior (returning to earlier levels of functioning)
Relationships
How they work, why some are difficult and unrewarding and why others seem effortless and enduring. These are questions many of us face in our lives as sons and daughters, husbands and wives, lovers, friends and as parents. As a therapist, I assist clients in examining the dynamics of the various relationships. I focus on four essential elements that must be present in each successful relationship, compromise, trust, mutual respect and communication. Married and unmarried couples often seek counseling to reduce conflict or increase intimacy by addressing communication patterns, developmental concerns and/or lifestyle issues. Further complications in relationships occur when the pressures of modern life; dual careers, blended families, divorce and alternative life styles influence our traditional relationships. Counseling today must focus on these complex realities to achieve the results clients are both seeking and entitled too. Practical, timely and cost effective strategies must be provided. My practice is focused on meeting the client's needs within the realities of their situations. I focus on a critical assessment of the client's needs and embark on assisting the client in identifying solutions to de-escalate crisis situations and with follow up sessions to identify patterns of thinking and behaviors that may be contributing to relationship conflicts.
What Is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker?
Licensed Clinical Social Workers are licensed by the State of California. To become licensed they must undergo extensive education, training, clinical fieldwork and pass two rigorous exams to demonstrate professional competency. They work in a variety of settings including private practice with individual couples, families, children and adolescents. They provide resources, support and assist client's in achieving more satisfying and productive social adjustments through psycho?education, interpretation of the psycho social aspects situations present, and enhance the client's ability to adapt to the struggles and difficult transitions that life presents.
About Marilynn Allemann, L.C.S.W., LCS#19300
Marilynn Allemann is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Her independent practice is in Irvine, California and focuses on individual, couple, family, group and relationship therapy. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from California State University, Fullerton and a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University Southern California. She has been a Field Instructor for the School of Social Work at the California State University, Long Beach and is currently a Field Instructor for the University of Southern California, School of Social Work. She is a member of the California Society of Clinical Social Workers, California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, Prevent Child Abuse of Orange County, Conference Planning Committee, and the University of Southern California Dean's Committee for the Advancement of Social Work in Orange County.
Marilynn Allemann, L.C.S.W., LCS#19300
can be reached at:
19742 MacArthur Blvd., Suite 125, Irvine, California 92612
949-563-6330 or 949-584-4578
References:
Carlson, Jon and Judith Lewis, Family Counseling: Strategies and Issues: Changing Family Patterns; Developmental Impacts on Children. 1997, Love Publishing Company.
Ricci, Isolina, Mom's House, Dad's House: Making Two Homes for Your Child. 1997, Simon and Schuster.
Shulman, Diana, Co?Parenting After Divorce: How to Raise Happy Healthy Children in Two Home Families. 1996, WinnSpeed Press.