What is Co-Parenting at Main Line Family Matters?

Co-Parenting can be approached in a number of directions. At Main Line Family Matters we take a direct approach. We don’t pull from any therapeutic modalities as Co-Parenting is not therapy. We don’t go into past situations that have caused distress but, rather, focus on where you are now and moving forward in a more functional collaborative manner by creating a PARENTING PLAN. This parenting plan is an actual document that allows both parents to be heard and to collaborate on all things regarding the children. We focus on many of the issues the courts don’t address and we do it in greater detail. In the majority of cases, this allows the family system to have a guide book on what is expected and happening in both houses. It will include all topics that are important to both parties and reflect the morals and values of both parties throughout the document.

Examples of headline topics in the parenting plan might be medical, educational, activities, chores, roles of family members, significant others, safety concerns, allowance, technology, religion and more. Again, it can be a broad stroke description or a more detailed description as it is tailored to your families-needs. Every family system is unique and not one size fits all. When the document is completed we recommend that the parties meet outside the office or return after about 6-12 months to review the document and update it. Children grow and their needs change and the document should reflect this in real time and allow for the parties to continue to collaboratively work together. As matters rise in a family system it is also advisable to contact us first to process them and try to reach an agreement before contacting lawyers and the court. We can get families in quicker than the courts usually can and provide a collaborate mindful approach to problem solving allowing the co-parenting relationship to remain intact and non-adversarial.

Remember, no one has written a guide book on how to raise your children in a two-parent household so doing this and tailoring it your unique families-needs can only benefit your children as well as your family system. Even after the separation is finalized you are still a family system - you have just restructured what that system looks like. The parenting plan you create with the support of your coparenting counselor can become your guidebook that allows that system to function as smoothly as possible.