Texas Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course

Healthy Divorce Course for Texas Residents Court Required Online Divorce Course

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D'Arienzo

Healthy Divorce Healthy Kids

The only Texas Divorce Course developed by a Psychologist immersed in divorce and family law matters in their clinical practice on a daily basis. Dr. Justin D'Arienzo, Clinical and Forensic Psychologist and Divorce Expert, routinely testifies in US Courts regarding divorce, parental fitness, parenting plans, and custodial decisions. He has combined his experiences with science based divorce literature to develop his Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course, Healthy Divorce Health Kids. This course is offered for educational purposes and is often utilized for the court requirement in Texas, Georgia and Florida among other states for individuals divorcing who also share children.

Quick Instructions: Purchase our course and you will immediately be sent a link and password for our course. Once you have taken the quiz at the end of the course you will automatically be provided with an official electronic certificate that you can present to your Attorney, Judge or maintain for your file. If you have any questions, please contact us as [email protected] or call us at 904-474-3854.

Log in HERE or use the login link on the receipt that will also include the password.

See the Texas Divorce Code regarding the Texas Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course for divorcing parents below. Our course does take four hours to complete and we do cover the required topics.

Texas Family Code – FAM § 105.009. Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course

  • In a suit affecting the parent-child relationship, including an action to modify an order in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship providing for possession of or access to a child, the court may order the parties to the suit to attend a parent education and family stabilization course if the court determines that the order is in the best interest of the child.
  • The parties to the suit may not be required to attend the course together. The court, on its own motion or the motion of either party, may prohibit the parties from taking the course together if there is a history of family violence in the marriage.
  • A course under this section must be at least four hours, but not more than 12 hours, in length and be designed to educate and assist parents with regard to the consequences of divorce on parents and children.  The course must include information on the following issues:
    1. the emotional effects of divorce on parents;
    2. the emotional and behavioral reactions to divorce by young children and adolescents;
    3. parenting issues relating to the concerns and needs of children at different development stages;
    4. stress indicators in young children and adolescents;
    5. conflict management;
    6. family stabilization through development of a coparenting relationship;
    7. the financial responsibilities of parenting;
    8. family violence, spousal abuse, and child abuse and neglect; and
    9. the availability of community services and resources.
  • A course may not be designed to provide individual mental health therapy or individual legal advice.
  • A course satisfies the requirements of this section if it is offered by:
    1. a mental health professional who has at least a master's degree with a background in family therapy or parent education; or
    2. a religious practitioner who performs counseling consistent with the laws of this state or another person designated as a program counselor by a church or religious institution if the litigant so chooses.
  • Information obtained in a course or a statement made by a participant to a suit during a course may not be considered in the adjudication of the suit or in any subsequent legal proceeding.  Any report that results from participation in the course may not become a record in the suit unless the parties stipulate to the record in writing.
  • The court may take appropriate action with regard to a party who fails to attend or complete a course ordered by the court under this section, including holding the party in contempt of court, striking pleadings, or invoking any sanction provided by Rule 215, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. The failure or refusal by a party to attend or complete a course required by this section may not delay the court from rendering a judgment in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.
  • The course required under this section may be completed by:
    1. personal instruction;
    2. videotape instruction;
    3. instruction through an electronic medium;  or
    4. a combination of those methods.
  • On completion of the course, the course provider shall issue a certificate of completion to each participant. The certificate must state:
    1. the name of the participant;
    2. the name of the course provider;
    3. the date the course was completed; and
    4. whether the course was provided by:
      1. personal instruction;
      2. videotape instruction;
      3. instruction through an electronic medium; or
      4. a combination of those methods.
  • The county clerk in each county may establish a registry of course providers in the county and a list of locations at which courses are provided. The clerk shall include information in the registry identifying courses that are offered on a sliding fee scale or without charge.
  • The court may not order the parties to a suit to attend a course under this section if the parties cannot afford to take the course. If the parties cannot afford to take a course, the court may direct the parties to a course that is offered on a sliding fee scale or without charge, if a course of that type is available. A party to a suit may not be required to pay more than $100 to attend a course ordered under this section.
  • A person who has attended a course under this section may not be required to attend the course more than twice before the fifth anniversary of the date the person completes the course for the first time.
    1. as added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 916, § A course under this section must be available in both English and Spanish.
    2. as added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 1171, § A course under this section in a suit filed in a county with a population of more than two million that is adjacent to a county with a population of more than one million must be available in both English and Spanish.

Healthy Divorce Healthy Kids

D'Arienzo
  • Sanda S.
  • Houston

“Great course. I feel like I learned so much about talking to my kids about the divorce the right way.”

D'Arienzo
  • Peter K.
  • Dallas

“Thank you Dr. D’Arienzo for making a course that was meaningful for me. I had no idea that as a dad a 50-50 timesharing arrangement could be good for my children.”

D'Arienzo
  • Barbara N.
  • San Antonio

“The course was as advertised. It was easy to follow and a great method to get lots of necessary information for my divorce.”

Get Your Certificate Today for Only $19.98

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D'Arienzo

About Dr. Justin D’Arienzo

Board Certified Clinical Psychologist,
a distinction held by only five percent of psychologists nationally.

Dr. D’Arienzo completed his undergraduate degree at Furman University and the University of North Florida, a master’s and doctorate degree from Nova Southeastern University, his psychology internship at Portsmouth Naval Medical Center and psychology residency at Pensacola Naval Hospital.

Once a licensed psychologist, he began his career as a US Navy Psychologist holding such positions as the Director of Psychological Services, Joint Medical Group/Joint Task Force, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Director of Psychological Services and the Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Program, USS KITTY HAWK Carrier Strike of the Pacific Fleet, Behavioral Health Clinic Department Head, Naval Air Technical Training Center, Pensacola, Florida.

Since leaving the Navy in 2008, he established D'Arienzo Psychological Group. He is a Clinical and Forensic Psychologist specializing in independent psychological evaluations, social investigations, parental fitness evaluations, parenting coordination, family mediation, and reunification therapy. He has been qualified as an expert witness to testify in civil and criminal cases at the state (Florida and Tennessee) and federal levels and in the military court system.

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