Focus Area:
PARENTING
The Problem
We get it, co-parenting after divorce requires effective communication and cooperation. But do you often find yourself thinking "That's great and all but don't you think we tried that? If we could communicate and cooperate we would not be divorced in the first place?!" Trying to play nice and share your children with someone you are actively healing from can feel like insanity. But if we've heard it once we've heard it a thousand times, it's not divorce itself but rather how you divorce that is so detrimental to children. The truth is divorce, especially the high conflict variety, can decrease a child's social-emotional health, academic achievement and can even lead to premature sexual activity and drug use. About 20 to 25% of children in divorced families vs. 10% in non-divorced families display these problems vs. (1). 18.9% of children living with 1 parent have a drug or alcohol problem vs. 4% of children that live with both biological parents. Parental divorce increases suicide attempts by 14%.
The Solution
Breathe. Most children show improved adjustment by two years after divorce. Want to know the secret ingredient to making that happen? Time and time again warm, connected and effective parenting has proved to be the number one buffer to the detrimental effects of parental divorce. Coparent coaching involves either individual or joint sessions that teach effective communication skills, boundary setting, transition management, conflict minimization, emotional coping skills and offers age-appropriate scripts. A coparent coach can help you grow as a parent, magnify love in your home, and maximize the time spent with your children.