From Silent Stares to Side Hugs
What Progress Really Looks Like in Reunification Therapy
You walk into the therapy room with a lump in your throat.
Your child won’t look at you.
They won’t speak to you.
Maybe they’re gripping their backpack strap a little too tightly, or sitting with their arms crossed and eyes glued to the floor.
And in that moment, you might wonder:
“Is this even working?”
“Will they ever forgive me?”
“Will I ever get my baby back?”
We see you.
And we want to gently remind you—this moment is not the end.
It’s just the beginning of something fragile, brave, and deeply sacred.
💔 Reunification Isn’t a Straight Line
It’s a series of quiet, meaningful moments that slowly build trust, safety, and connection.
But those moments don’t always look like what you’d expect.
Not every child runs into a parent’s arms.
Not every session ends in a hug or a breakthrough conversation.
Sometimes, “progress” looks like…
A child finally making eye contact after weeks of silence
Sitting in the same room without tension thick in the air
Sharing a silly moment with a therapist watching closely
Choosing to draw a picture next to their parent instead of across the room
Whispering something instead of staying silent
These are the tiny triumphs—and they matter more than you know.
🌱 Healing Begins in the Subtle
At The Couples Therapy and Reunification Counseling, we pay close attention to the small shifts. Why?
Because those are the cracks where light starts to pour in.
We’ve seen:
A teen who refused to speak begin writing letters to their parent
A child who couldn’t tolerate their parent’s presence begin asking, “Are they coming today?”
A hesitant parent start playing Uno with their child again, and laughter filling the room
The first shared snack
The first tear
The first side hug
You don’t always need a dramatic moment. You need consistency, compassion, and safety. We help create that.
“But It Still Feels So Far Away…”
Yes. Healing takes time.
But trust isn’t built in one grand gesture—it’s built in the thousand small ones: the showed-up-anyways, the stayed-calm-when-it-was-hard, the I love you even if you can’t say it back yet.
And with the right guidance, love becomes less of a memory… and more of a reality again.
What We Use in Session
Here’s the magic: We don’t force connection. We invite it—gently, creatively, and with intention. Every family is different, so we tailor our approach using:
📬 Letter writing to open closed doors
🎨 Art and drawing to express what words can’t
🧩 Games to rebuild playfulness and comfort
💬 Scripts and role-play for navigating “hard talks”
🛋️ Parallel sessions until face-to-face is safe
❤️ And sometimes… just silent sitting, until the room feels safe again
What Does Healing Look Like?
It might not look like a movie.
It might not even look like how you imagined.
But one day, you’ll hear them say, “Okay, you can sit next to me.”
One day, they’ll reach out for your hand instead of pulling away.
One day, that side hug will come—and it will mean everything.
And when that day comes?
It won’t be because we forced it.
It’ll be because you showed up—every step of the way.
📍 Montebello & Newport Beach – We’re Here for Your Family
Whether you’re at the beginning of the reunification process, stuck in the middle, or feeling like you’re running out of hope—don’t give up.
You don’t have to do this alone. We’re here to guide the way.
✨ Rebuilding love is possible.
✨ Progress is happening—sometimes silently.
✨ Let’s take the next step together.
📞 Book your consultation now
📍 Offices in Montebello + Newport Beach
📲 Follow us on Instagram @couplesandreunificationtherapy for daily support, tips, and stories of healing.