Resources: Collaborative Process & Co-parenting

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Kevin Wickes, Ph.D,LPC

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“Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony.”
-- Thomas Merton

Integrative Counseling Services, Inc.

150 Oakland Ave. Suite 200, Rock Hill, SC 29730 ~ Telephone: 803-792-7254 ~ Office Hours: 9 am - 5 pm, Mon-Fri

What is Collaborative Practice?

Collaborative Practice is a voluntary dispute resolution process in which parties settle without resort to litigation. In Collaborative Practice:

1. The parties sign a collaborative participation agreement describing the nature and scope of the matter;

2. The parties voluntarily disclose all information which is relevant and material to the matter that must be decided;

3. The parties agree to use good faith efforts in their negotiations to reach a mutually acceptable settlement;

4. Each party must be represented by a lawyer whose representation terminates upon the undertaking of any contested court proceeding;

5. The parties may engage mental health and financial professionals whose engagement terminates upon the undertaking of any contested court proceeding; and

6. The parties may jointly engage other experts as needed.

Collaborative Practice provides you and your spouse or partner with the support and guidance of your own lawyers without going to court. Additionally, Collaborative Practice allows you the benefit of coaches, child and financial specialists all working together with you on your team.

In Collaborative Practice, core elements form your commitments to this process, which are to:

Negotiate a mutually acceptable resolution without having courts decide issues.
Maintain open communication and information sharing.
Create shared solutions acknowledging the highest priorities of all.

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What is Co-Parenting?

Co-Parenting is a tool utilized in focusing on how to raise children in a two-household environment as a result of separation/divorce. The co-parents mutually agree:

1. to Learn how to effectively communicate and co-parent for the children’s well-being;

2. to Understand and Comprehend the impact of separation/divorce on the children;

3. to Decide to minimize and/or eliminate parental conflicts that negatively impact the children and often put their children torn between the co-parents;

4. to Develop and Act on a co-parent plan that will guide them on how to raise the children;

5. to Respect the parental choices of each other; and

6. to Create a positive and safe environment for their children to grow.

The co-parent counselor will provide, coach, consult, guide, counsel, and etc. to achieve/obtain the above goals. The co-parent counselor will minimize or eliminate being biased to either parent and continue to keep the focus on the well-being of the children.

In Co-Parenting, the following are the core elements, which are to:

Communicate effectively.

Respect/Honor the co-parent roles.

Establish healthy and adaptable/flexible (and often times firm) boundaries.

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