Co-Parenting Therapy in Thousand Oaks, CA
Co-Parenting Therapy in Thousand Oaks with Julie Klamon, LMFT
Divorce ends a marriage, but it does not end the job of being parents together. When communication between co-parents breaks down, children feel it. They pick up on the tension at handoffs. They learn to play one parent against the other. They carry stress that is not theirs to carry. Co-parenting therapy is about putting your children back at the center of the conversation.
As a licensed marriage and family therapist with more than 20 years of experience, I have worked with many families going through separation and divorce. Co-parenting therapy in Thousand Oaks gives you and your co-parent a structured place to work through the conflicts that make shared parenting harder than it needs to be. My office in Agoura Hills is about 15 minutes from Thousand Oaks on the 101 freeway.
This work is not about rehashing the marriage or assigning blame. It is about finding practical ways to parent together that protect your kids and lower the temperature for everyone.
Co-Parenting in the Thousand Oaks Community
Thousand Oaks is the kind of place where you run into people you know at the grocery store, at youth soccer games, and at school events. That visibility can make divorce feel especially public. Parents worry about what other families think, and children sometimes feel caught between two households that are both deeply embedded in the same community. Those pressures are real, and they add a layer to co-parenting that families in more anonymous settings may not face.
The logistics of co-parenting in the Conejo Valley bring their own challenges too. CVUSD school schedules, sports leagues, tutoring appointments, and social plans all require coordination between two homes. When parents are not on the same page, kids end up confused or stuck in the middle. Therapy helps you build a system for handling those daily decisions so your children experience consistency instead of chaos.
How I Approach Co-Parenting Therapy
My role in co-parenting therapy is to be a neutral guide. I do not take sides, and I do not get pulled into who did what during the marriage. The focus stays on what your children need and how the two of you can deliver that. We work on communication strategies that reduce misunderstanding, ground rules for making decisions together, and ways to handle holidays, schedule changes, and the unexpected situations that always come up.
For more on how I work with families, visit my Co-Parenting Therapy page. I also offer family therapy when children need to be directly included in sessions.
Who This Is For
Co-parenting therapy is specifically for adults who share parenting responsibilities after a separation or divorce. Here are some common situations where this work helps:
- Recently separated parents: Setting up a co-parenting framework before patterns of conflict become entrenched.
- High-conflict co-parents: Reducing arguments and learning to communicate about the children without things escalating.
- Parents with different parenting styles: Finding common ground on discipline, screen time, bedtimes, and expectations.
- Parents re-entering co-parenting after a change: A new partner, a move, a schedule shift, or a child's behavioral change that requires a new approach.
If your children are also struggling, I offer child therapy and teen therapy to support them through the transition.
Frequently Asked Questions About Co-Parenting Therapy in Thousand Oaks
What is co-parenting therapy?
Co-parenting therapy is designed for separated or divorced parents who want to reduce conflict and work together more effectively for the sake of their children. It focuses on communication, decision-making, consistency between households, and keeping kids out of the middle.
Do both parents need to attend co-parenting therapy in Thousand Oaks?
Ideally, yes. Co-parenting therapy works best when both parents are involved, because the goal is to improve how you function as a parenting team. However, if your co-parent is not willing to participate, individual sessions can still help you develop strategies for managing the relationship on your end.
How does co-parenting therapy differ from couples therapy?
Co-parenting therapy is not about the romantic relationship. It is focused entirely on your shared role as parents. We work on logistics, communication about the children, handling disagreements about rules and discipline, and making transitions between homes smoother for your kids.
Can co-parenting therapy help with school and activity coordination in the Conejo Valley?
Yes. Many co-parents in the Thousand Oaks area struggle with coordinating CVUSD school schedules, sports practices, and extracurricular activities across two households. Therapy can help you establish systems for communication and scheduling that reduce friction and confusion for your children.
Is co-parenting therapy available virtually?
Yes. I offer virtual sessions to anyone in California. Virtual co-parenting therapy can be especially convenient when parents live in different parts of the area or have conflicting schedules.
What if there is a lot of conflict between me and my co-parent?
High-conflict co-parenting is one of the most common reasons people seek co-parenting therapy near Thousand Oaks. My role is to provide structure for your conversations so they stay productive. Over time, most parents find that they are able to communicate with less reactivity and more focus on what their children actually need.
A Convenient Location for Thousand Oaks Co-Parents
My office is at 28310 Roadside Dr. #249, Agoura Hills, CA 91301. For co-parents who live in different parts of the Conejo Valley, my Agoura Hills office is often a neutral and accessible meeting point.
Virtual sessions are also available throughout California, which can be a good option when co-parents have difficulty being in the same room or when schedules do not align for in-person meetings.