Co-Parenting
We are proud to offer co-parenting sessions facilitated by Shelley Chambers, LCSW. Shelley is a seasoned therapist with specialized training in the collaborative model from the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. Shelley brings a wealth of expertise from her extensive career in family, children, and couples therapy. Renowned for her balanced and fair approach, she is trusted by clients, judges, and divorce attorneys alike. Whether you're navigating a divorce or simply aiming to enhance your parenting skills, Shelley provides a supportive and effective space for parents to strengthen communication and parenting abilities.
*Please note, Co-Parenting services are not covered by insurance.
Why Effective Co-Parenting is Crucial
Conflict between parents is the single most harmful factor in children’s mental and behavioral health following divorce. Transitioning from the emotionally charged role of spouse to a neutral co-parent fosters the ability to make decisions in a respectful and objective manner. The shared objective is to prioritize the children's needs and maintain strong relationships with both parents. Recognizing the worth and accountability of each parent, even with differing responsibilities, is a key aspect of a healthy co-parenting relationship. Co-parenting sessions often play a vital role in helping parents learn new, healthy patterns to enhance their co-parenting dynamics to support their children’s well-being post-separation.
Stephanie Martson, author of The Divorced Parent (1994), shares these helpful guidelines for parenting post-divorce:
Protecting kids from fights between parents is crucial because it can really affect how they feel.
Letting kids love both parents helps them handle the ups and downs of family life with a sense of security.
Allow kids to have the opportunity to stay close with both parents, ensuring to keep the parental relationship issues between adults only.
Parents need to shift their relationship from being ex-spouses to being effective co-parents.
After a divorce, parents should work on building a stable and strong life for themselves and their kids to help everyone bounce back and stay strong.