Co-parenting, while essential for the well-being of children after a separation or divorce, often comes with a set of challenges that can cause strain between parents and impact the family dynamic.  Often, co-parents report high conflict caused by animosity towards one another, different parenting styles, decision-making, scheduling, and misunderstandings in communication.  Unfortunately, this may result in struggles between the parents, as well as negative and insecure exchanges and relationships with the children.

Co-parenting therapy provides a structured environment for parents to work on issues related to conflict, healthy communication, establishing boundaries, and parenting strategies.  A primary focus of co-parenting therapy is determining what is in the best interest of the children.  Additionally, co-parenting therapy aims to help parents get to a place where they can better communicate, negotiate, and make decisions, and reduce or eliminate the need for legal intervention.

High Conflict

When high conflict is present, parents often grapple with separating the needs of their children from their own.  Animosity, stone-walling, manipulation, and disrespect are often present.  Healthy, traditional parenting relies on open communication and cooperation, yet this is often a challenge in high-conflict co-parenting and emotions are at the forefront.  

Co-parenting therapy helps parents to learn conflict-resolution skills by developing healthy boundaries and improved communication.  Parents will learn ways to put their differences aside while focusing on what is in the best interest of the children.  While past turmoil and issues will be discussed, the intention is to gain awareness of unhealthy patterns to avoid future conflict.

Communication

Many parents experienced unhealthy communication before separation or divorce.  However, the stress and troubles faced when separated often exacerbate unhealthy communication. 

Co-parenting therapy will assist parents in learning how to better communicate with each other and their children.  Strategies and techniques will be implemented to help parents gain awareness of hurtful and unhelpful comments while learning how to have more effective conversations, express themselves more clearly, and coordinate plans.  It will also explore how unhealthy communication can negatively affect children causing resistance and refusal in the parent-child relationship, and may lead to parental alienation.

Boundaries

Once separated or divorced, it is sometimes hard for a parent to recognize that he or she no longer has a say about the other parent’s life, with the exception when there is harm to the children.  Parents are no longer responsible for one another once divorced.

Co-parenting therapy will help parents determine ways to respect one another while setting boundaries.  Parents will learn how to work together, while also living separate independent lives.

Strategies

Co-parenting therapy will identify the unique needs of the parents and their families to determine strategies to address issues like those described above.  The therapist will create a treatment plan based on their needs and input from the parents.  Treatment plans are intended to achieve the goals identified at the start of counseling and to lead to the ability to successfully co-parent while reducing the need for legal intervention.

Key Considerations of Co-Parenting Therapy

Therapy may consist of sessions with both parents, individual sessions with one parent, sessions with a parent and a child, and family sessions.  The therapist will make recommendations and requests regarding the type of sessions.  Non-compliance with sessions may result in termination.

It is not investigative.  It does not replace case management, court-ordered psychological evaluations, court-ordered custody evaluations, or substitute for individual mental health counseling.  The therapist will not provide information to the Court or legal representation without prior agreement and a signed release of information unless there is a mandatory court order.

Any additional time the counselor spends on this case outside of counseling sessions may result in additional fees.

For more information about counseling services, see the FAQ page.