Separation is a crucial time in the personal process. The family starts to live in two separate homes. Spouses are letting go, perhaps slowly, of their attachment to each other.

Just after separation, the bulk of the stress comes from loss and change. Each family member undergoes his or her own mourning process – at the very least, for the loss of the intact family.

It can be difficult for a relationship to move on to one of necessary cooperation – which is vital if you are both parents. Sometimes the other parent may be unwilling or unable to cooperate.