Couples Counseling
Effective Strategies for shared parenting
–Natalie Whiteford, PhD
Co-parenting is a minefield for even the most solid couples. It is hard enough to be open and vulnerable and communicate clearly around matters of the heart and everyday living as partners. These challenges are taken to a whole new level when trying to shepherd tiny humans toward functional adulthood. Gender roles are so hard to balance, it is so hard to agree on the right strategy in a given moment, our own histories and demons are triggered and our fears about our children can be so intense that open communication and calm discourse can be impossible. It is hard to hold on to our sense of self, let alone each other.
- Co-Parent Challenges
- Everyday Living as Partners
- Shared Strategies
- Trigger Avoidance
- Communication Skills
- Maintaining Your Self Identity
Regardless of your marital status, I am here to help. I can help you develop communication skills to navigate difficult conversations and decisions. We can work on problem solving strategies for difficult parenting dilemmas. I can help you understand and develop empathy for one another’s insecurities and triggers so that you can function more as a team – jumping in when needed to protect each other or backing each other up rather than working at odds or further triggering each other. You will not always see eye to eye, but you can still prioritize each other and function as a team and can still honor and respect each other while you navigate rough waters. You can have a partner in grief, fear, and JOY.
