Co-Parenting Therapy

“Children are not resilient, children are malleable.”
— Dr. Bruce Perry, Childhood Trauma, the Neurobiology of Adaptation

Parenting is tricky to begin with— a constant journey of figuring out where to hold boundaries for our children and where to give them independence and autonomy. Throw in a major life transition like a divorce or the addition of new stepfamily members, and parenting becomes even more complex. The good news is that research tells us that these transitions alone do not have negative developmental implications for children. It’s the potential conflict around these transitions and between parents that does have negative developmental implications.

Through co-parent therapy, I help parents pre- and post-divorce to explore what support their children need, establish structure to co-parenting communication, and mediate dilemmas that arise. The goal is a cooperative parenting style where parents can share information back and forth in a productive manner and children can grow up with one family, even when separated in multiple homes.

What are the goals of co-parenting sessions?

In co-parenting therapy, I provide psychoeducation, exploration of patterns and mediation regarding specific dilemmas. Goals can be tailored to each family, but typically include:

  • Understanding the impact on children of growing up in two homes

  • Structuring co-parent communication in a way that gets decisions done while limiting the stress placed on children

  • Exploration of values related to parenting

  • Developing joint narratives so parents can be aligned on how they support their children and communicate about family transitions

  • Guidance in anticipating transitions or stressors, so that decisions can be made with less conflict and relationships can thrive

What is the format for co-parenting work?

These 60-minute sessions can be in-person in my office in Hingham, MA or via HIPAA-compliant video chat.  Most of my clients who are seeking co-parenting support request Zoom sessions. Generally, I meet once with each co-parent individually, and moving forward all meetings are joint meetings and all communication involves both parents. Frequency and number of sessions vary between co-parents, but meeting weekly or every other week for 4-6 sessions and then continuing on an as-needed basis after that. If co-parents struggle aligning, then duration of therapy will be longer.