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Dr Martin is available for Parenting Coordination.

 

Parenting Coordination is a structured, child-focused dispute resolution and case management process that helps high-conflict separated parents implement parenting plans or orders and manage day-to-day routines and co-parenting issues.

 

The Role of a Parenting Coordinator

  • Acts as a neutral, trained professional (often with a legal, psychological, or social science background).
  • Works with parents over a longer period, usually 12 to 24 months.
  • Provides education on child development and post-separation communication.
  • Helps interpret existing parenting orders and manage minor day-to-day disputes before they escalate.

 

The Main Goals of Parenting Coordination 

  • Protect children from ongoing emotional harm caused by parental conflict.
  • Improve communication by teach parents practical conflict management and problem-solving skills.
  • Ensure parents make consistent, developmentally appropriate decisions for their children.
  • Promote stable routines and cooperation for the well-being of the children.
  • Reduce litigation.

 

How Parenting Coordination Differs from Psychological Treatments and Therapy

  • Not Therapy: A Parenting Coordinator does not provide psychological treatments, counselling or therapy or psychological assessment. The role is educational and facilitative rather than clinical. 
  • Conflict Resolution: The focus is on helping parents implement existing orders, manage day-to-day disputes, and lower child exposure to conflict.
  • Not Confidential: Unlike traditional psychology sessions, parenting coordination is reportable to the court.

 

How Parenting Coordination Differs from Family Dispute Resolution (FDR)/ Mediation

  • Timing: Parenting Coordination and FDR/Mediation serve two completely different stages of a separation. While both use neutral third parties to help parents manage conflict, FDR/Mediation is designed to create a parenting agreement, whereas Parenting Coordination is designed to implement an agreement or court order that is already in place. 
  • Duration: Mediation is usually a short-term or one-off event, whereas parenting coordination is an ongoing monitoring and coaching relationship.
  • Confidentiality: A Parenting Coordinator is appointed either by a Family Court Judge through a court order (including consent orders) or jointly chosen and engaged directly by the parents through a private agreement or a parenting plan. A parenting coordinator can report to courts, lawyers, or judges to hold high-conflict parents accountable and protect the children’s best interests.

 

Steps to Booking in Parenting Coordination

1. Booking
Once you have agreed on a Parenting Coordinator (“PC”), or the Court has ordered
the appointment of a PC, the first step is to book and pay for your individual intake
sessions and your first joint session.

2. Information and Agreement
Complete Dr Martin’s intake form and sign the Parenting Coordination Agreement,
which sets out the terms of Dr Martin’s engagement, the process and expectations.

3. Intake Sessions
Dr Martin will meet with each party individually for 55 minutes, either in person or via
video conferencing, to understand the family history and the issues to be addressed
through the parenting coordination process.

4. Parenting Coordination Sessions
Dr Martin will meet with the parties together for 90 minutes, either in person or via
video conferencing, to conduct parenting coordination and assist the parties to
resolve disputes. Sessions will generally continue monthly until parenting
coordination is no longer required or the relevant Court order expires.

5. Documentation
Dr Martin will document any agreements reached during the parenting coordination
session and arrange for the parties to sign the agreement. Dr Martin will prepare
an Agenda for each session.

 

To obtain further information about Parenting Coordination or to obtain Dr Martin’s CV, availability, fees and terms of engagement please email: info@psychologicalsolutions.com.au