For families experiencing the turmoil that so often comes with divorce or separation, co-parenting counseling can help. The family court judge might order this counseling in high-conflict family law cases, but more proactive parents can engage in such counseling of their own volition; either way, the goal is to develop conflict resolution skills, provide tools to improve communication, and create a co-parenting plan that is in the best interest of the child. 

Unlike couples therapy or family therapy, the focus in co-parenting counseling is on the child. Also, rather than examining the past, co-parenting counseling uses a forward-looking approach. Co-parenting counseling meets families where they are and works to assist parents in creating (or re-creating) the united front so critical to easing their children’s transition through the divorce/separation now, while learning how to stave off future problems without further judicial intervention. 

Co-parenting counseling is tailored to the unique needs of each family. Be it concerns of parental alienation, conflict around holiday scheduling, or issues arising from the blending of families, co-parenting counseling helps keep the focus on the child’s experience and educates parents on how the conflict between them can negatively impact their child; e.g., parents learn how to speak respectfully to each other and how speaking negatively about the other parent to or in the presence of the child (or allowing another to do so) can harm the child.

If you are going through a divorce or separation and think co-parenting counseling could benefit your family, call the Rice Law Firm, and schedule a consultation with one of our experienced family law attorneys.