You broke up with your ex and if you’re being honest, they’re the last person you want to talk to. Or maybe, you were never dating in the first place. But, you have a child or children together, so you have no choice. You’ve tried to talk to them rationally and parent in a cohesive way, but you always end up fighting. Ultimately, your children come first so you have to put your anger and sadness aside and learn how to work together to do what’s best for them.
Parenting is hard, even under the best of circumstances. But, co-parenting with someone you don’t have an established relationship with is even more challenging. When you and your child’s other parent struggle to get along and agree on how to parent your children, life can get messy and chaotic. Unfortunately, when this happens, your children may have a hard time coping emotionally. This can lead to things such as behavioral issues, developmental regressions, and emotional distress.
Co-parenting doesn’t have to be so challenging, you can find harmony and peace while parenting with your Ex. Co-parent counseling can help.
Common Reasons to Consider Co-Parent Counseling
There are lots of different reasons you may want to consider counseling to help you learn to co-parent with your ex. However, common reasons you may want to consider co-parent counseling include:
You’re struggling to navigate custody or other parenting arrangements
You’re often fighting with your child’s other parent
Children are getting caught up in the conflict between you and your ex
Your child feels or has been asked to choose sides
Your children are acting out, falling behind academically, or showing signs of developmental regression
You feel like your ex is punishing you for dating or remarrying
You have concerns about the other parent’s significant other or their lifestyle choices
One parent is withholding the child or children from the other
Learn to Co-Parent Successfully
Sitting in a room with your ex and getting counseling may seem unbearable at first, but if you’re struggling to be amicable and coparent effectively, then it can be super beneficial. Remember the reason why you’re doing this… because you both want the best for your children. It is possible to move past your romantic mistakes and build a new kind of relationship with your ex.
Perhaps you’re wondering, how does this differ from couples counseling? After all, you’ve broken up or weren’t together in the first place. Well, during coparent counseling we won’t rehash the issues that caused your breakup or divorce and the goal is not to help you repair your relationship as a couple. The goal of co-parent counseling is to help you and your child’s other parent learn how to communicate amicably and make decisions that have your child’s best interest in mind.
Our Approach to Co-Parent Counseling
In coparent counseling our initial goal is to create a safe space for you and your ex to discuss your concerns and parenting goals. We recognize that tensions are high between you two, especially if the separation is fresh. So, it’s important to address the issues that are preventing you from parenting peacefully. We want to help you to get to a neutral emotionally space, so you can begin to focus on creating a parenting plan that focuses on the needs of your child.
A Therapist Will Help You Come Up with a Sound Parenting Plan
The first step in creating a cohesive parenting plan is to define what your needs are. In counseling, your therapist will ask both you and your child’s other parent to do that. This will help us create a baseline and blueprint on how to move forward. Then, you can expect to discuss each individual’s goals for parenting your shared child or children. Finding a middle ground and compromising with your ex may seem totally impossible right now, but that’s where working with a skilled therapist comes in. They act as a third-party mediator to help you navigate challenging emotions and find a middle ground that feels acceptable to you both. Counseling will help you learn to accept your ex’s influence in your child’s life.
Create an Emotionally Supportive Environment for your Child or Children to Thrive
Another goal of coparent counseling is to help you and your child’s other parent create a cohesive and emotionally supportive family unit for your child. During counseling we will provide the Gottman method’s emotion coaching program to help you and your ex better respond to your child’s emotional needs. This program helps parents recognize, validate, and empathize with their child’s emotions. And it will help you learn to correct unwanted behavior appropriately and set limits and expectations for your children. Lastly, it will provide you with tips on how to best connect with your child to improve communication and foster positive feelings.
Rebuilding a cohesive and united family unit may feel absolutely impossible, but it is doable. After coparent counseling you will be able to form a united front with your child’s other parent. In time you will find that you’re on your way towards building a healthier relationship with your former partner and with your children.
Begin Co-parent Counseling in Wake Forest, NC (serving the greater Raleigh, NC area)
Co-parent counseling is a wonderful step towards creating a healthy home or your child amidst the chaos of a divorce or co-parenting arrangement. Our therapists are ready to support you and your family in a non-biased manner. To begin counseling in Wake Forest, NC or online therapy in North Carolina, follow these steps:
Contact our counseling office to schedule a therapy session,
Meet with one of our caring therapists to discuss your coparenting goals,
Begin counseling and create a solid parenting plan for your family.
Other Services Offered With My-Therapist
We are happy to offer a variety of mental health services. Other services include online therapy, family therapy, individual therapy, couples workshops, couples therapy, prenatal therapy, child loss therapy, teen therapy, and couples intensive therapy. We also offer support through premarital counseling, divorce counseling, foundations of lasting love, co-parenting counseling, and AAMFT supervision. Read our blog to learn more about us and our services!
