Parenting Coordinator – Kathleen Coughlin – (60-Minutes)
Kathleen Coughlin is a Qualified Parenting Coordinator in the 7th Judicial Circuit (Flagler County, St. John County, Volusia County) and the 9th Judicial Circuit (Orange County & Osceola County) in Florida. A Parenting Coordinator is assigned by the court to help families that are in high conflict. I have focused my training and clinical experience to help families work together to make decisions that are in the best interest of their children. I have completed Family Mediation Training, Parenting Coordination, and training in Collaborative Practice. Please feel free to contact me to learn more about my professional experience at 610-248-0059 or by email at kcoughlinlcsw@gmail.com.
What is a Parenting Coordination (PC)?
PC is when a trained professional, an impartial third party is assigned by the court to support families. The role of a Parenting Coordinator is to assist the parents in successfully implementing their parenting plan. A Parenting Coordinator is assigned by the court to help families that are in high conflict. In some cases, the parents may be demonstrating behaviors where they are not complying with parenting agreements and court orders. In high conflict parenting, the parents are not working consistently to reduce conflict in their family system. Decreasing conflict is vital so that the children are sheltered from parental disputes.
According to the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, “Parenting Coordination is a child-focused alternative dispute resolution process in which a mental health or legal professional with mediation training and experience assists high conflict parents to implement their parenting plan by facilitating the resolution of their disputes promptly, educating parents about children’s needs, and with prior approval of the parties and/or the court, making decisions within the scope of the court order or appointment contract. The overall objective of Parenting Coordination is to assist high conflict parents to implement their parenting plan, to monitor compliance with the details of the plan, to resolve conflicts regarding their children and the parenting plan in a timely manner, and to protect and sustain safe, healthy and meaningful parent-child relationships”.
How Can PC Help Our Family?
Allowing the child to love both parents;
Shielding the child from conflict;
Reducing the child’s stress;
Improving the coparent relationship;
Increasing parental cooperation and respect;
Teaching parents effective communication skills;
Monitoring any attempts of parent alienation;
Working with parents to follow a parenting plan;
Monitoring parental behaviors and compliance with court orders;
Reporting non-compliance to attorneys;
Referring those involved for other necessary services.
How do I schedule with Kathleen Coughlin?
Please email Kathleen Coughlin at kcoughlinlcsw@gmail.com to schedule your Parenting Coordination session – 610-248-0059. Kathleen is available to provide services in the 7th Circuit (Flagler County, St. John County, Volusia County) and the 9th Circuit (Orange County & Osceola County) in Florida.