Dr. Lichtenstein provides co-parenting counseling and mediation to help parents resolve conflict and improve communication. Parents in high-conflict custody litigation end up filing numerous motions to modify, enforce, and adjust their parenting plans. This can add up to thousands of dollars in attorney’s fees and hours in the courthouse. Dr. Lichtenstein provides parents with an out-of-court option to learn how to resolve disputes. Parent Coordination is a separate service that is typically used when parents are mandated by the court to use a professional who can monitor compliance with orders and make binding decisions regarding their parenting plan.
What is co-parenting counseling and mediation?
Co-parenting counseling is a form of therapy that helps parents focus on how to work together to parent their children in common. In contrast to couple’s therapy, Dr. Lichtenstein is not focused on the relationship between the parties. Instead, his goal is to teach co-parents how to communicate and raise concerns about their children in a way that protects the children’s relationship with each parent and minimizes conflict and stress. Typically mediation of specific issues related to custody is involved in co-parenting counseling. Custody mediation with a professional helps parents learn how to navigate conflict and their differences, while staying focused on the best interest of their children.
What kinds of families benefit from co-parenting counseling? High conflict custody disputes arise when partners struggle with the following issues:
- Anger
- Distrust
- Communication
- Lack of Cooperation
- Excessive Litigation
- Domestic Violence
- Addiction
- Differences in Parenting Values
- Power & Control
- Mental Health
What are the advantages of co-parenting counseling?
- Prioritize your children’s needs
- Reduce conflict and litigation
- Assistance from a highly qualified neutral third party
- Save time and money on attorney’s fees
- Resolve conflicts more efficiently
How many co-parenting sessions will I need?
The duration of co-parenting counseling depends upon the co-parent’s preferences and the nature of the issues. Generally, Dr. Lichtenstein recommends 12 sessions to establish a parenting plan. Sessions last one hour.
What can I do if my co-parent is not interested in co-parenting counseling?
While it is ideal for both parents to attend co-parenting counseling together, even one parent can improve their parenting skills with Dr. Lichtenstein and reduce the stakes of high-conflict co-parenting disputes in psychotherapy.
Why select Dr. Lichtenstein as my co-parenting counselor?
Dr. Lichtenstein is a highly qualified psychologist with over twenty years of clinical practice. He specializes in working with high conflict co-parents and has significant experience working with individuals who struggle with trauma and addiction.
Dr. Lichtenstein has extensive experience working with children, youth, and families. In addition to directing two different Bay Area behavioral health programs for children and families, he has 20 years of experience providing direct services to children and families in clinics, their homes, and in schools.
If you are interested in working with Dr. Lichtenstein, you may discuss his appointment with your attorney and propose his name to your co-parent. If both sides agree to proceed, the next step is to send an email to Dr. Lichtenstein to discuss availability and other logistics.
Custody Solutions in San Francisco and Los Angeles 