Program Topic
Imperfect Parents, Important Relationships: Why Children Benefit from Maintaining Contact with Both Parents
About the Program
In high-conflict cases, it’s not uncommon for one parent to be labeled as “difficult,” “deficient,” or just plain frustrating. So why does the legal system still push for ongoing contact?
Join psychologist Karli McGuire and attorney Del Dickson as they unpack this question from both legal and mental health perspectives. This engaging session will explore why “the system” is designed to support continued parent-child relationships—even when one parent isn’t showing up perfectly (but is not unsafe).
You’ll gain insight into:
• Why maintaining relationships with both parents supports a child’s long-term emotional development
• The legal framework behind parent-time decisions in these situations
• How disruption or loss of a parent relationship can impact a child’s ability to manage conflict, form healthy relationships, and even parent their own children in the future
The conversation will challenge assumptions, sharpen perspectives, and remind us why this work matters.
This is another Utah AFCC event you won’t want to miss this one!
Whether you’re a family law attorney, mediator, therapist, or financial professional, this presentation will equip you with insights and tools to better serve your clients.
📅 Date: MAY 15, 2026
⏰ Time:7:30 AM
📍 Location: Family Advocacy Center - 5295 South Commerce Drive, Suite 525 - Murray
☕️ Breakfast provided by Gourmandise Deli!
💵 Cost: $25 AFCC Members; $30 General Admission
(**If you are a first-time attendee interested in joining us, please message Todd Wetsel (801) 633-1361 to arrange your complimentary admission.)
About the Speakers
KARLY McGUIRE Ph.D.
Dr. Karly McGuire is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 17 years of experience working with high-conflict families involved in the court system. She earned her doctorate in California, where she began her clinical work supporting at-risk youth within the school system. Following the completion of her degree, she returned to Utah and has continued her work with children, adolescents, and families across multiple systems, including child welfare and the juvenile justice system.
Dr. McGuire currently owns and operates a private practice in Ogden, Utah, where she provides couples counseling, family therapy, and individual therapy for adults, children, and adolescents.
She began specializing in high-conflict family dynamics in 2009, initially facilitating court-ordered co-parenting classes. During this time, she also worked closely with the Juvenile Court, supporting foster children and their families. Dr. McGuire is certified in Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI), an attachment-based, trauma-informed model designed to meet the complex needs of vulnerable children. Over the course of her career, she has expanded her expertise to include Parent Coordination, Co-parenting Therapy, and Reunification Services, working with hundreds of families navigating complex relational and legal challenges.
Outside of her professional work, Dr. McGuire stays actively involved in her family life. She supports her son’s travel hockey program, enjoys traveling, and spends time fishing with her husband. She also values time in the mountains—and life with her three energetic dogs.
DEL DICKSON, J.D.
Del Dickson currently works as a Private Guardian ad Litem, representing children in high-conflict custody cases, and also serves as a Special Master. He is in the process of becoming a licensed social worker, expanding his ability to support families, parents, and children from a clinical perspective.
Prior to focusing his practice in family law, Del graduated from Harvard Law School in 2007 and earned a B.A. in Politics from Pomona College in 2004. He previously served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney in the Central District of California and as a law clerk to the Honorable Dale S. Fischer of the United States District Court for the Central District of California.
Del is a frequent and popular speaker at Utah AFCC events. He serves on the Utah AFCC Board of Directors and is co-chair of the Membership Committee with Jennifer Frahm.
Join AFCC Today
AFCC (Association of Family & Conciliation Courts) is an interdisciplinary and international association of professionals dedicated to improving children's lives by resolving family conflicts. Founded in 1963, AFCC includes over 6,000 members in 25 countries. For nearly 60 years, AFCC has served as a leader in family court innovation and reform in areas including parenting coordination, mediation, child custody evaluation, family law education, and domestic violence. AFCC members receive a print and electronic subscription to Family Court Review, the world’s leading interdisciplinary family law journal. Learn more at www.afccnet.org.
