Limited Space Available for New Clients

Co-Parenting Therapy in Agoura Hills, CA

Support for separated and divorced parents, including high-conflict situations, parallel parenting, and building a parenting plan that holds up in daily life.

Julie Klamon LMFT, Co-Parenting Therapist located in Agoura Hills, CA

As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I specialize in helping divorced and separated parents build healthy co-parenting relationships. The end of a marriage doesn't mean the end of your parenting partnership. Through co-parenting therapy, I help parents develop communication strategies, establish consistent boundaries, and create stable environments where children can thrive despite family transitions.

Co-parenting therapy addresses the unique challenges that arise when raising children across two households. I work with parents to resolve conflicts, improve communication, establish consistent parenting approaches, and focus on the wellbeing of your children. Whether you're struggling with high-conflict interactions, navigating new family structures, or simply want to strengthen your co-parenting relationship, I provide the tools and guidance needed to establish a positive path forward for your family.

Common Co-Parenting Challenges

Building Effective Communication After Divorce

Co-parenting challenges: divorced parents communicating during child handoff in Agoura Hills.

Communication often becomes the greatest challenge after a divorce. Lingering emotions, unresolved conflicts, and different parenting styles can all contribute to communication breakdowns that ultimately affect your children's wellbeing.

In co-parenting therapy, I help parents:

  • Develop business-like communication methods to reduce emotional triggers
  • Establish clear channels and boundaries for sharing important information
  • Create structured approaches for making decisions about your children
  • Implement tools and techniques for managing disagreements constructively
  • Practice maintaining child-focused conversations even during difficult moments

Supporting Children Through Family Transitions

Mother and teen daughter in co-parenting therapy in Agoura Hills, discussing emotions about family changes.

Children of all ages experience significant emotional impacts during divorce. They may feel caught in the middle, forced to choose sides, or responsible for their parents' happiness. Creating consistency and emotional safety across two households is essential for their adjustment.

Through co-parenting therapy, I help parents:

  • Understand the developmental needs of children at different ages during divorce
  • Recognize signs that children are struggling with the family transition
  • Create consistent routines, rules, and expectations between households
  • Develop strategies to shield children from parental conflict
  • Help children maintain healthy relationships with both parents
  • Address complex emotions without placing burdens on children

When Co-Parenting Is Tied to a Custody Case

Some parents arrive here on their own. Others arrive because a custody matter is underway and communication has stopped working. Both are workable starting points.

If your situation involves a family court process, the practical questions are usually the same: how to hand off the children without an argument, how to agree on school and medical decisions, how to keep a disagreement between the two of you from landing on your child. That is the work we do together.

Common reasons parents in this situation reach out:

  • A parenting plan exists on paper but breaks down in practice
  • Exchanges and handoffs regularly turn into conflict
  • One parent feels shut out of school, medical, or activity decisions
  • The children are being asked, directly or indirectly, to carry messages
  • Communication has become so charged that parallel parenting is the safer structure

A note on court requirements: if you have been ordered to complete a specific program, check the order carefully and confirm what will satisfy it before you begin. I am glad to talk through whether the work I do fits what you have been asked to complete. You can book a free phone consultation to find out.

Co-Parenting Therapy FAQ

What is co-parenting therapy?

Co-parenting therapy is a specialized form of therapy that helps divorced or separated parents work together to raise their children in a healthy, supportive way. Sessions focus on improving communication, reducing conflict, establishing consistent parenting strategies, and keeping children's emotional wellbeing at the center of all decisions.

Do both parents need to attend co-parenting therapy?

While the best results often come from both parents participating, co-parenting therapy can still be effective if only one parent attends. Individual sessions can help you develop better communication skills, manage your own reactions, and create strategies that positively influence the co-parenting dynamic even without the other parent present.

How can co-parenting therapy help reduce conflict?

Co-parenting therapy helps reduce conflict by teaching structured communication techniques, establishing clear boundaries, and developing agreed-upon protocols for making parenting decisions. You will learn to identify emotional triggers, respond rather than react, and keep conversations focused on your children's needs rather than past relationship issues.

How long does co-parenting therapy take?

The length of co-parenting therapy varies depending on the complexity of your situation and your specific goals. Some parents see meaningful improvement in 6 to 10 sessions, while others benefit from longer-term support during major transitions. We will work together to establish a timeline that fits your family's needs.

Can co-parenting therapy help if we have a high-conflict divorce?

Yes, co-parenting therapy is especially valuable in high-conflict situations. I use specialized approaches such as parallel parenting strategies, structured communication tools, and clear setting limits techniques to help minimize direct conflict while ensuring both parents remain actively involved in their children's lives.

Do you work with parents who have different parenting styles?

Absolutely. Differing parenting styles are one of the most common challenges in co-parenting. In therapy, we work to identify core values you share, establish consistent expectations across both households, and find respectful compromises so your children experience stability and security no matter which home they are in.

What is parallel parenting, and when is it better than co-parenting?

Parallel parenting limits direct contact between parents and keeps each household's day-to-day decisions separate, with information passed through a written channel rather than conversation. It is often the better structure when direct communication reliably turns into conflict. The goal is the same as co-parenting, which is to protect the children from the friction between adults, but the method is designed for situations where talking things through is not yet realistic.

Can co-parenting therapy help us build a workable parenting plan?

Yes. Much of this work is practical. We look at exchanges and handoffs, school and medical decisions, holidays, activities, travel, and how you will handle the disagreements that come up between them. The aim is a plan specific enough that it does not require a negotiation every week.

My custody case is still open. Is it too early to start?

Not necessarily. Parents often start while things are still unsettled, because that is usually when communication is hardest and the children are most likely to feel caught in the middle. If you have been ordered to complete a particular program, confirm what will satisfy that order before you begin, and we can talk it through on a free phone consultation.

My Approach to Co-Parenting Therapy

I believe that effective co-parenting is built on mutual respect, clear boundaries, consistent communication, and a shared commitment to children's wellbeing. My therapeutic approach focuses on:

  • Child-centered Focus: Keeping children's needs at the forefront of all decisions and interactions
  • Practical Tools: Providing concrete strategies, communication protocols, and problem-solving frameworks
  • Emotional Processing: Creating space to address underlying emotions that may impact co-parenting
  • Skill Development: Building essential skills for long-term co-parenting success
  • Structured Planning: Developing detailed parenting plans that address routine and special circumstances

Co-parenting therapy with me typically begins with assessment of current challenges, identification of goals, and development of a tailored treatment plan. Sessions may involve both parents together, individual work, or a combination depending on your specific situation.

Schedule a Free Phone Consultation

If you're struggling with co-parenting challenges or want to build the healthiest co-parenting relationship you can, please schedule a free phone consultation. I'm here to help you navigate this complex journey and create a stable, positive environment for your children's growth and development.

In-Person and Virtual Therapy Options Available

My office is located in Agoura Hills, CA 91301. I provide in-person therapy to clients in Agoura Hills and the surrounding areas, including Westlake Village, CA, Oak Park, CA, Calabasas, CA, Thousand Oaks, CA, Woodland Hills, CA and Simi Valley, CA. I also offer virtual therapy sessions to individuals located anywhere within the state of California.

Co-Parenting Therapy Services

Blue Check Mark Communication Strategies

Blue Check Mark Conflict Resolution

Blue Check Mark Parenting Plan Development

Blue Check Mark High-Conflict Co-Parenting

Blue Check Mark Blended Family Transitions

Blue Check Mark Consistent Parenting Approaches

Blue Check Mark Boundary Setting

Blue Check Mark Child-centered Decision Making

Blue Check Mark Parallel Parenting Strategies

Blue Check Mark Supporting Children's Adjustment

CONTACT

Fill out my online form.
818-403-5439

28310 Roadside Dr. #249
Agoura Hills, CA 91301

Offering both in-person and virtual sessions