How to Choose the Right Co-Parenting Service: A Guide for Divorced or Separated Parents
Co-parenting after separation or divorce can be a challenging journey, and finding the right support is essential to ensuring both you and your children thrive. There are various types of services designed to help co-parents communicate, collaborate, and navigate shared parenting responsibilities. However, choosing the right one depends on your current relationship with your co-parent, your needs, and the level of assistance required. Below is a guide to help you select the best co-parenting service for your unique situation. If, after reading through the description of each service, you could still use support selecting the right service please try the decision tree at the end of this article or contact our support team at admin@sdfsmass.com.
Which co-parenting service is right for you?
1. Co-Parenting Coach
A co-parenting coach is ideal for parents who are either divorced, separated, or in the process of uncoupling but want to work on improving their communication and decision-making skills. This option is suitable if both co-parents are open to working together and are committed to crafting individualized communication strategies that fit their family’s needs. The coaching sessions provide a neutral space for co-parents to listen to one another and collaborate without involving third-party opinions.
If both parents are not able to attend together initially, individual sessions can also be arranged to help one parent build the necessary skills and tolerance to eventually engage in joint sessions. The goal is to eventually help co-parents work together without needing a facilitator.
Cost: Varies based on the clinician or coach chosen. Parents may be hourly or pay-as-they-go.
2. Parent Coordination
Parent coordination may be a better fit for co-parents who struggle to resolve disagreements and need more intervention to resolve child-related disputes. This service is often recommended by attorneys or the court, as it provides both mediation and arbitration. In parent coordination, the coordinator helps parents reach an agreement, but if they cannot, the coordinator will make a binding decision. This decision can be appealed in court. Parent coordinators employ many of the same skills and interventions as co-parent coaches (above) but the fundamental difference between these two services is that a parent coordinator may make a binding decision regarding a co-parenting dispute if the parents are unable to resolve the issue together. Ultimately, parent coordinators first try to mediate and collaborate, then, if necessary, will write written recommendations.
Cost: Varies based on the selected parent coordinator. Parents retain the parent coordinator to be available to help resolve disputes. This is an important distinction from a co-parent coach as the retainer allows the parties to predetermine how much they’re willing to invest in the process and furthermore allows the parent coordinator to make decisions even if one parent chooses to boycott the process. This, unfortunately, is sometimes necessary to make timely decisions for children if the decisions are otherwise delayed by a non-responsive parent.
3. CORE (Co-Parenting Restructuring)
If you're newly separated or divorced, the CORE program can help set the foundation for positive co-parenting. CORE consists of four structured meetings (plus homework) designed to teach essential co-parenting principles. Both parents must attend these four meetings together. This program is an excellent starting point if you want to create a solid co-parenting structure based on mutual understanding and communication but are not quite ready to commit to a long-term third-party support option, like with a co-parent coach or parent coordinator. Many of our CORE participants ultimately decide that they prefer the support of a third party neutral, rather than resolving disputes in Court and these participants often choose to continue in a coaching relationship with their CORE instructor. CORE allows participants to test the process with a commitment to only four sessions.
Cost: $550 per person.
4. Intensive CORE℠ (Co-Parenting Restructuring)
For co-parents needing more intensive support, the Intensive CORE program is a nine-week commitment involving group sessions facilitated by both a mental health professional and an attorney. This option allows co-parents to learn co-parenting strategies in a group setting with other co-parenting pairs (typically 4-5 co-parenting pairs). Optional add-ons, including private sessions, provide additional personalized support during and after the program.
Cost: $850 for the group program, with additional costs for private sessions and booster sessions. Please contact admin@sdfsmass.com for more information regarding the additional add-on options.
5. Individual Co-Parenting Support
If one parent is not ready or willing to participate in co-parenting work, individual support can still be highly beneficial. Programs like ongoing individual co-parenting coaching allow one parent to develop strategies for improving communication and handling challenges in the co-parenting relationship. Additionally, programs like SCORE and RESPECT offer structured support where one parent learns the necessary tools to manage their relationship with the other parent, even if they are not yet working together.
Cost: Individual coaching cost varies by clinician,, with SCORE at $800 for four sessions, and RESPECT at $1,800 for nine sessions.
Choosing the right co-parenting service is a crucial step toward ensuring your family’s well-being after separation or divorce.
Whether you need simple coaching, more intensive restructuring, or individualized support, there is a program that can provide the structure, tools, and guidance you need to co-parent effectively. Consider your current situation, willingness to collaborate, and desired level of intervention to choose the service that best fits your needs. With the right support, you can successfully navigate this journey and foster a positive environment for your children.
If you still need help considering the best option, try working through the decision-tree or contacting our support staff at admin@sdfsmass.com
Decision Tree for Selecting Co-Parenting Support Services
This decision tree will guide co-parents in selecting the most appropriate support service based on their current situation and needs. Please answer the questions below to help identify which service would best support your co-parenting journey.
1. Are both parents willing and able to participate in joint zoom co-parenting sessions?
Yes: Go to Question 2.
No: Go to Question 3.
2. Are both parents willing to work together (even if they need support to do so successfully)?
Yes: Consider Co-Parenting Coach or Parent Coordination.
Co-parenting Coaching or Parent Coordination is ideal if both parents are committed to resolving co-parenting disputes outside of court.
When deciding between a co-parent coach or parent coordinator, decide if you’d like a neutral third party to be able to make a decision to resolve a co-parenting dispute or if you’d prefer to return to Court if you cannot make a decision with your co-parent.
If you would like a neutral third party to make a decision: Parent Coordinator.
Ideal if both parents are committed to staying out of court, but may struggle to communicate and collaborate. The role of the parent coordinator is to mediate disputes or make binding decisions when parents cannot agree.
If you would prefer to return to Court: Co-Parent Coach.
Ideal if both parents are committed to working together to improve communication and collaborate.
No: Go to Question 3.
3. Would either reluctant co-parent be more willing to participate in co-parent services if the support was in a group setting on zoom thereby creating more distance between co-parents?
Ideal for co-parents who need more intensive support and prefer group learning with the added benefit of professional facilitation by both a mental health professional and an attorney.
Goal: To deepen co-parenting skills in a structured group setting with optional personalized sessions.
Cost: $850 for the group program. Additional costs for private sessions and booster sessions.
No: Go to Question 4.
4. Would either reluctant co-parent be willing to try just four time-limited, curriculum based co-parenting sessions before deciding whether they’re willing to engage in ongoing co-parenting support?
Yes: Consider CORE
Ideal if the parents want to lay the groundwork for positive co-parenting through structured sessions.
Goal: To create a solid foundation for co-parenting with mutual understanding.
Cost: $550 per person for the 4-session program.
No: Go to Question 5.
5. Is either reluctant co-parent willing to work individually to develop the skills necessary to successfully engage in a co-parenting session?
Yes: Consider RESPECT
Ideal for parents to attend individually to develop the foundational skills needed to be able to one day participate in co-parenting forums (coaching, parent coordination, family therapy, etc).
The curriculum includes developing skills on emotional regulation, perspective-taking, distress tolerance, and communication.
This curriculum is for 9 hours of clinical work.
No: Go to Question 6.
6. If your co-parent is unwilling to engage in co-parenting services with you AND is unwilling to work on developing the skills needed to be able to engage in co-parenting support, you may enroll in SCORE (individual coaching).
Consider Individual Co-Parenting Support
Ideal if one parent is willing to improve communication, strategies, and manage their relationship with the other parent even when they are not yet working together.
Programs: SCORE (4 sessions for $800)
Goal: To give one parent the tools needed to manage the co-parenting relationship effectively and develop positive strategies.
