In Japan, more than 200,000 children experience their parents' divorce annually. To help parents and children cope with problems that result from divorce, a psychoeducational program called Families in Transition (FAIT) has been conducted with Japanese families since 2013. The current authors have noted the importance of understanding the differences and similarities between custodial parents (CPs) and non-custodial parents (NCPs). The purpose of the current study was to examine differences and similarities between the experiences of CPs and NCPs. This study also examined how conflicts occur and ways to improve the program. Participants were 17 parents who participated in the FAIT program. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and analyzed using the KJ method.
The main findings were as follows. Both parents felt hurt and unstable after the divorce. CPs felt as if they were the victims of the divorce, and NCPs felt ignored and lonely as a result of the divorce and not being able to see their children. These emotions hampered their ability to relate to the other parent. Both parents also felt that they had not received sufficient support and information during the divorce. As a result of participating in the FAIT program, both parents felt accepted by sharing their experiences and emotions and they also learned the importance of the child's perspective. CPs changed their view towards visitation, and NCPs' emotions changed when they were treated the same as CPs. Results revealed the importance of understanding both parents' point of view and keeping a balance between sharing personal experiences and maintaining the framework of a psychoeducational program.
