Coparenting Facilitation

Coparenting is rarely easy, especially when past conflicts, new relationships, or changing life circumstances create more tension in the relationship.  

Most coparents have the same goal—to do what’s best for your children— but figuring out how to align your visions and actions in practice can be challenging. If you're struggling with communication, a lack of trust, or simply can’t seem to get on the same page, coparenting facilitation could be the solution you’re looking for. 

Our coparenting facilitation service is designed to help parents under the guidance of a trained family therapist. While our mediators can’t tell you what to do or dictate what’s best for your children, we can assist in fostering a deeper understanding between you and your coparent, helping you to create new agreements and improve your communication, all in service of creating a stable and nurturing environment for your children. 

Who Is Coparenting Facilitation For? 

Coparenting facilitation is beneficial for any parenting relationship where friction, confusion, or change is present. This service may be right for you if: 

• You’re having trouble sticking to your original parenting agreements. Maybe your original agreements are too vague, or you and the other coparent understand them differently. Ambiguity in your original agreements can lead to multiple interpretations of the plan, which can cause tension.  Our team can create clarity for your agreements based on your unique circumstances and our breadth of experience. 

• You or your children have outgrown your existing agreements. Life evolves, and so do parenting styles, schedules, and expectations. Perhaps your children’s needs are different now, or you or your coparent have changed your views on certain parenting issues. Significant life events like a new job, a move, or remarriage might require a shift in responsibilities or boundaries, making it necessary to rethink your previous agreements. Reevaluating and adjusting agreements as needed is essential to maintain a balanced relationship. 

• You and your coparent just don’t get along. Coparenting can be incredibly challenging when conflict and mistrust become the norm. Facilitation can help you find common ground and learn how to work together, even if you have different parenting styles. 

How Coparenting Facilitation Works 

At the heart of our coparenting facilitation process is the goal of improving communication and fostering understanding between both parents. We strive to help both parties express their needs and concerns in a way that’s productive, with the ultimate goal of reaching agreements that prioritize the well-being of your children. 

Here’s how the process typically works: 

• Initial Consultation 
  We start with an initial consultation where both parents meet with a family therapist to discuss their current coparenting situation, concerns, and any conflicts. The therapist helps to identify the core issues that are making it difficult to cooperate effectively, whether it's poor communication, lingering emotional conflict, or disagreements about parenting styles. 

• Exploration of Parenting Goals 
  During this phase, the therapist works with both parents to clarify their individual parenting goals and priorities. What does each parent want for their children, and what concerns are driving their disagreements? By getting clear on these points, the therapist can help parents identify areas where they align and areas where compromise may be necessary. 

• Facilitating Difficult Conversations 
  It’s common for difficult emotions—anger, frustration, sadness—to come up during coparenting discussions. The therapist will facilitate these conversations, creating a safe and neutral environment where both parents can speak openly. The goal is to foster understanding, even when disagreements persist. By improving communication skills and encouraging respectful dialogue, both parents can begin to see things from the other’s perspective. 

• Creating or Revising Parenting Agreements 
  Once both parents have expressed their needs and concerns, the therapist helps facilitate the creation or revision of parenting agreements. These agreements might cover topics like custody schedules, holidays, decision-making processes, and discipline approaches. We focus on creating agreements that are flexible yet clear, ensuring that both parents understand their roles and responsibilities while allowing room for adjustments as life changes. 

• Ongoing Facilitation 
  Coparenting facilitation isn’t a one-time event. It’s an ongoing process that evolves as your family and circumstances change. We encourage parents to return for periodic facilitation sessions, especially during major transitions or if communication starts to break down again. Regular check-ins can prevent small issues from escalating into major conflicts. 

Navigating Blended Families and New Relationships 

The introduction of new relationships—whether through new partners or remarriage—can significantly alter the dynamics of a coparenting relationship. Blended families often face unique challenges, such as differing expectations of how step-parents should be involved in decision-making, the emotional adjustment of children, and changing household rules. 

Our coparenting facilitation service provides a neutral space to navigate these challenges. By working through concerns around the roles of new family members, we help parents adjust their parenting agreements to accommodate blended family dynamics in a way that minimizes stress for the children and ensures that everyone feels respected and heard. 

Working With a Family Therapist 

One of the key benefits of coparenting facilitation is that it’s led by a skilled family therapist. Our therapists are specially trained in family systems and communication, which allows them to offer guidance that is both empathetic and rooted in proven techniques for improving relationships. The therapist’s role is not to take sides or impose decisions but to help both parents communicate more effectively, understand each other’s perspectives, and find solutions that work for everyone involved—especially the children. 

With our family-centered approach, we focus on helping parents navigate both their individual needs and the needs of their children. Whether you’re working through a difficult conflict or simply need help adjusting to new circumstances, our therapists provide the support you need to move forward constructively. 

A Partnership with Madison Divorce Mediation 

In some cases, updating your coparenting agreements may require legal changes. While our therapists focus on the emotional and relational aspects of coparenting, we also have a sister company, Madison Divorce Mediation, which specializes in the legal aspects of coparenting agreements. 

If you and your coparent agree that legal updates are necessary—such as changes to placement schedules, clarifying financials, or formalizing new agreements—our collaboration with Madison Divorce Mediation ensures that you have access to the legal support you need. By working together, we provide a comprehensive service that addresses both the emotional and legal sides of coparenting, helping you create agreements that are clear, sustainable, and legally sound. 

Why Coparenting Facilitation Matters 

When parents are able to communicate effectively and work together, the children benefit. The stress and tension that can arise from coparenting conflicts are often felt most acutely by the children involved. Coparenting facilitation is designed to minimize that stress by fostering cooperation, understanding, and respect between parents. By improving your coparenting relationship, you can create a more stable, loving environment for your children, helping them thrive even in the face of family changes. 

Whether you’re facing new challenges in your coparenting relationship or need help revisiting old agreements, coparenting facilitation can provide the tools and guidance you need to move forward. Reach out today to learn more about how we can help you and your coparent find a way to work together, for the sake of your children.