Co-Parenting Counseling: Turning Conflict into Collaboration

 

Co-parenting doesn't have to feel like a battle.

If you're reading this, chances are you're tired. Tired of the constant tension, the endless back-and-forth, and the feeling that every conversation about your kids turns into a minefield. You're not alone in this struggle.

Maybe you recognize some of these patterns:

⬧ When decisions feel impossible You need to make choices about school, activities, or healthcare, but every discussion turns into an argument. Important decisions get pushed off indefinitely while you and your co-parent dig in your heels. You might feel bullied into agreeing to things you're uncomfortable with, or like your input doesn't matter at all.

⬧ When communication breaks down Your stomach drops when you see their name pop up on your phone. What used to be simple conversations about pickup times or school events now feel loaded with tension. You find yourself walking on eggshells, or maybe you're both stuck in a cycle of blame and defensiveness that goes nowhere.

⬧ When the costs keep climbing You're spending money you don't have on lawyers to settle disputes that feel like they should be simple conversations. Court dates are becoming routine, and you're starting to wonder if you're fighting more about fighting than about what's actually best for your children.

⬧ When you're running on empty The stress is bleeding into everything. You're exhausted, your kids can sense the tension, and you're starting to lose hope that things will ever get easier. Trust feels impossible, and you're second-guessing every interaction.

There's another way forward

If this feels familiar, you don't have to stay stuck here. Co-parenting counseling can help you step out of these cycles and build something better—not just for you, but for your children who deserve parents who can work together, even when it's hard.

 How Co-Parenting Counseling Works

  • Creating an emotionally safe space for the work to be done is paramount. In service of this goal, we’ll follow a consistent format in every session to ensure structure and transparency:

    • Begin with updates and a recent “co-parenting win”

    • Set an agenda together

    • Collaboratively work through items and decisions

    • Summarize and document agreements in real time. After each session, both parents receive a written summary of what was discussed and any agreements reached.

  • Co-parenting conflict isn’t just about the issues—it’s about the interaction patterns. Unsolved problems lead to relationship problems. We’ll explore the unhelpful dynamics that keep you locked in battle and build insight into how each of you may be contributing. With compassionate feedback and curiosity—not blame—we’ll identify the shifts needed to break those patterns and build new ones.

  • Progress means more than understanding—it means action and problem-solving. Together, we’ll work toward tangible decisions, agreements, and routines that create clarity and stability for your child(ren). This may include:

    • Aligning on extracurriculars or school involvement

    • Developing shared protocols for doctor visits or special events

    • Creating or updating your parenting plan

 What You Can Expect

As our work progresses, many parents report:

  • More productive, respectful communication

  • A greater sense of control and input in decision-making

  • Reduced need for costly court involvement

  • Clear boundaries and a roadmap for shared parenting

  • Clarity on parenting time, holidays, and transitions

  • Written parenting plans or protocols you can actually use

  • Relief—from chaos, uncertainty, and conflict

 Session Fees

  • $250 per parent for individual intake session

  • $250 per joint co-parenting session (split between parents)
    Most families begin with biweekly sessions, but we can adjust frequency based on your needs and level of conflict.

Getting Started

  1. No-cost 15-minute consultation

  2. Individual intake appointments for each parent

  3. Goal-setting and session planning

  4. Biweekly or flexible session scheduling

 

FAQ’s

  • I do not bill insurance directly, but I can provide a superbill. For co-parenting or family systems work, the “client” is the family unit. That means no diagnosis will be included, which may limit your ability to get reimbursed.

  • Court-ordered therapy balances confidentiality with legal requirements and best practices around collaboration. Any communication outside our sessions requires signed releases from all parties in treatment. This ensures transparency while protecting your privacy and the therapeutic relationship.

  • Safety comes first. If there is a restraining order in place, I cannot begin therapy unless:

    • There is a court-ordered carve-out explicitly allowing for joint therapy

    • Safety concerns have been mitigated and addressed  (no active violations or safety issues)

    • All participants voluntarily agree to participate

    We will discuss and address all safety considerations throughout the therapeutic process.