Co-Parenting Therapy in Malibu
Co-Parenting Therapy in Malibu with Julie Klamon, LMFT
Divorce and separation are hard enough on their own. Adding the pressure of co-parenting with someone you are no longer partnered with makes everything more complicated. Every handoff, every scheduling decision, every disagreement about rules or discipline becomes a potential flashpoint. Co-parenting therapy in Malibu is designed to help you and your co-parent build a working relationship that keeps your children stable, even when the two of you struggle to see eye to eye.
As a licensed marriage and family therapist with two decades of experience, I have worked with many parents who were convinced they could never co-parent effectively. Most of them were wrong. It takes effort and it takes guidance, but it is possible to build a co-parenting arrangement that reduces conflict and gives your children what they need most: two parents who can be in the same room without the temperature rising.
My office in Agoura Hills is about 25 minutes from Malibu via Las Virgenes Road and Malibu Canyon Road. Virtual sessions are also available for parents located anywhere in California.
Co-Parenting Therapy for the Malibu Community
Malibu is a small community, and separation or divorce here comes with a layer of visibility that most people elsewhere do not have to deal with. Families who are well-known or connected to the entertainment industry face the added stress of public attention during what should be a private process. When your ex lives a few miles down PCH and your children attend the same SMMUSD school, there is no avoiding each other. The question is whether those encounters will be tense for your kids or manageable.
Privacy is a real concern in these situations, and I respect that completely. My office in Agoura Hills is located outside the Malibu social orbit, which means you will not be seen by people in your community when you come to a session. The focus of co-parenting therapy is entirely practical: better communication, fewer arguments, clearer boundaries, and a parenting plan that actually works for your family.
My Approach to Co-Parenting Therapy
Co-parenting therapy is not couples counseling. We are not here to rehash the relationship or decide whose fault it was. We are here to build a parenting partnership that works well enough to protect your children from the fallout of your separation. That means developing clear communication protocols, handling disagreements without escalation, creating consistent rules and expectations across two households, and learning how to put your personal feelings about your co-parent aside when parenting decisions need to be made. You can read more about my approach on my co-parenting therapy page.
Both parents attending together is the most effective format, but if that is not possible, individual co-parenting sessions can still make a real difference. You cannot control what the other person does, but you can change how you respond, and that alone can shift the entire dynamic.
Who I Work With
Divorced Parents
Separated Parents
Court-Referred Parents
Frequently Asked Questions About Co-Parenting Therapy in Malibu
Co-parenting therapy in Malibu focuses on helping separated or divorced parents communicate more effectively, reduce conflict, develop consistent parenting strategies across two households, and keep their children's well-being at the center of every decision. Sessions are practical and goal-oriented, and they are designed for adults, not children.
I take privacy very seriously. Everything discussed in therapy is confidential and protected by law. My office in Agoura Hills is located outside the Malibu community, which provides geographic distance from your social and professional circles. Virtual sessions are also an option for parents who want maximum discretion. I have experience working with clients who require a high level of confidentiality, and I handle every case with that same standard of care.
Both parents attending together is ideal, but it is not always possible or appropriate. If your co-parent is unwilling to participate, you can still benefit from individual sessions focused on your own communication strategies, boundary-setting, and emotional management. When both parents do attend, we work on building a functional co-parenting relationship regardless of the status of your personal relationship.
Yes. Some parents come to co-parenting therapy because it was recommended or ordered by a family court. I work with court-referred clients regularly and can provide documentation of attendance when needed. Whether you are here by choice or by court direction, the goal is the same: building a co-parenting relationship that works for your children.
Co-parenting therapy is not about the romantic relationship. It is about the parenting partnership. The focus is entirely on how you communicate and make decisions as parents, not on reconciliation or processing the breakup. That distinction is important because it allows both parents to engage without feeling like they are being pushed toward outcomes they have not chosen.
Yes. Children are deeply affected by conflict between their parents, even when parents try to shield them from it. Co-parenting therapy helps you reduce the tension your children are absorbing by giving you better tools for communication, decision-making, and managing disagreements. When the conflict between parents decreases, children feel it immediately.
In-Person and Virtual Co-Parenting Therapy Near Malibu
My office in Agoura Hills, CA 91301 is convenient for in-person co-parenting therapy near Malibu. I also see clients from the surrounding communities, including Agoura Hills, CA, Calabasas, CA, Westlake Village, CA, Topanga, CA, Woodland Hills, CA, Thousand Oaks, CA, and Oak Park, CA. Virtual therapy sessions are available to parents located anywhere within the state of California.
If co-parenting has become a source of constant stress and you want to find a better way, I can help. Schedule a complimentary phone consultation and we can talk about your situation and what a productive path forward might look like.
CONTACT
Offering Both Virtual And In-Person Sessions