Frequently Asked Questions
Starting this kind of work is often accompanied by uncertainty. Families and individuals usually reach out during periods of conflict, legal complexity, emotional strain, or major transition — and it’s natural to have questions about how the process works, what to expect, and whether this is the right kind of support for your situation.
This page answers some of the practical and procedural questions I am most often asked about my practice, the way I work, and how I support families, parents, and professionals navigating high-conflict and sensitive circumstances.
Below are general questions that apply across most services. More specific information relating to forensic work, mediation, therapy, and assessments can be found within each service section.
01
What is reunification intervention?
A structured professional process supporting the development or restoration of a parent–child relationship following separation, disruption or significant relational difficulty.
02
Is reunification the same as supervised contact?
No. Supervised contact facilitates safe and appropriate contact. Reunification and reconstruction involve a broader process aimed at supporting the relationship over time.
03
What is supervised visitation?
Professionally supervised parent–child contact where additional structure, oversight or safeguards are required.
04
What is interactional analysis?
Structured professional observation of parent–child interaction, considering communication, engagement, responsiveness, boundaries, emotional responses and relationship quality.
05
What is the difference between supervised contact and interactional analysis?
Supervised contact facilitates the interaction; interactional analysis evaluates and understands the interaction. They can be combined but have different purposes.
06
What is parenting coordination?
A structured, child-focused intervention that assists parents with ongoing conflict, communication and implementation of parenting arrangements.
07
Do you provide parenting plans?
Yes. Parenting plans can address care, contact, communication, schooling, holidays, decision-making and other practical arrangements.
08
Can you supervise contact ordered by a court?
Yes, where appropriate. The scope and purpose of the professional service are clarified before it commences.
09
Do you work with both parents?
Where appropriate, yes. The professional role is independent and child-centred rather than representing either parent.
10
Do I need a court order?
Not necessarily. Parents or professionals may enquire directly. Existing orders and the circumstances of the child will determine what services can appropriately be provided.
11
Do you work with attorneys and Family Advocates?
Yes. Kirsten can collaborate with relevant professionals while maintaining independent professional judgement and appropriate boundaries.
12
How is the child's voice considered?
Age, development, individual circumstances, expressed views where appropriate and emotional experience are considered within the purpose and scope of the intervention.
13
Can services be combined?
Yes. For example, supervised contact may form part of a reunification pathway, and interactional analysis may form part of a broader assessment or reconstruction intervention.
14
Who provides the professional work?
All professional services are provided directly by Kirsten Curtis. Clients and referring professionals have direct access to her senior-level expertise and professional judgement throughout the process.
My mission is to deliver exceptional, discreet, and effective solutions that bring clarity, resilience, and resolution. When you engage with me, you gain a trusted consultant, a strategic partner, and a proven expert committed to achieving meaningful, lasting outcomes. My work is not rushed, generic, or procedural. It is thoughtful, strategic, and grounded in real outcomes for children and families
