The unwanted father: On the psychodynamics of father-child relations after seperation and divorce

Although the importance of the father for the development of the child is well known and although an increased presence of the father in the family system is often demanded, processes of active shutting out the father occur. The detoriation of relation between father and child is not seen as a result of pathological male personality, but rather as a result of family or couple system. The special situation for counsellors of such cases is discussed.