Kathleen Coughlin, LCSW – Coparent Counseling (60-Minutes)
Kathleen Coughlin, LCSW offers sessions for clients residing in Florida, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The focus of my practice is on supporting families as they cope with a separation or divorce. My role is to help parents recognize that placing children in the middle of conflict is extremely detrimental to the child. Above all, I encourage parents to prioritize their children in decision-making.
Co-Parenting 101 – What is the purpose of Coparent Counseling?
I have extensive experience working with parents that have decided to separate or divorce. My role is to support the health of the family system for the benefit of the children. I also offer very specialized services counseling services related to coparenting & parent coordination. The most critical decision that parents will make is to work together to amicably co-parent their children. Your children will benefit from seeing their parents communicate in a calm & respectful manner. Your children need to know that they can love each parent equally. Coparent Counseling offers parents an external outlet of support during a significant life transition in the family. Parents will learn how to interact in a healthy, respectful, and child-first manner. During counseling sessions, the parents will discuss the needs of their children, problem-solve around areas of conflict, and develop solutions for their families. Significant emotions and feelings may occur when parents decide to separate.
“The sign of great parenting is not a child’s behavior. The sign of truly great parenting is the parent’s behavior” – Andy Smithson
When parents communicate and compromise, their children can thrive in their new environments. Eventually, your children will begin to experience love and stability in both homes if parents work together. The best gift parents can give their children is to leave their anger and resentment in the rearview mirror. As parents, it is essential not to place your children in the middle of parental conflicts.
Coparent counseling aims to reduce stress and improve communication between both parents. The Coparent Counselor is a neutral party that will help both parents to learn effective communication strategies. The hope is to improve communication, increase cooperation, and develop compromises that are in the best interest of the children. Parents will learn communication techniques that they can use to reduce stress and strain in their family system.
Parents that can put aside their personal differences, can implement a parenting plan that is in the best interest of their children. Placing decision-making in the hands of the court is normally not in the best interest of your family. For instance, court and attorney fees can grow year after year if the conflict continues. By implementing the 4 C’s of Coparenting – Communication, Cooperation, Compromise, and Consistency, you will help your children adjust easier to the changes in your family.