Co-parenting has long been considered the gold standard following separation and divorce—and for good reason. When parents are able to communicate respectfully, make joint decisions, and keep children out of conflict, research consistently shows better outcomes for children. It is a well-established principle that is difficult to dispute. But what happens when that gold standard isn't attainable? For many separated families, collaborative co-parenting is both realistic and be

As professionals working with children and families, we are increasingly being trained to recognize coercive control within adult relationships. The concept of coercive parenting however, receives far less attention, despite the fact that many professionals working with children and families encounter it regularly. Part of the challenge is that coercive control inherently involves a power differential. That same power differential naturally exists between parents and children

Written by guest author Renee Rodriguez, of The Custody Blueprint * For protective parents who have experienced trauma, the idea of a...

Many parents who find themselves in a high-conflict divorce situation, often fear that their children will “take sides” with the...