Custody/Parenting Plans

Custody & Parenting Plan Mediation Options

Every family comes to custody mediation from a different starting place. Some parents already agree on most aspects of their custody/parenting plan and need help putting it all together or working out a few details. Others have more areas of disagreement and need additional time to understand each other’s concerns, explore options, and create a workable plan.

The goal isn’t simply to reach agreement. It is to create a custody/parenting plan that considers your children’s developmental needs, the strengths and stresses within your family, and provides enough structure and predictability for your next stage as co-parents.

I’ve found that most parents want—and are able—to improve at least some aspects of their co-parenting relationship as they move out of their marriage or partnership and into this next stage.

What You Can Expect From Me

My hope is that something from our work together goes with you throughout your co-parenting years: a clear structure for how you will manage the disagreements that naturally arise as parents. My aim is not only to help you create a parenting plan, but to reduce future stress on the family system—for you, your co-parent, and your children.

The parenting plan gives you agreements for today. A structure for resolving disagreements helps you navigate what you couldn’t foresee.

I also understand that your priority right now may be to just get through custody and move on! Sometimes, however, slowing down a little at the beginning can help things move more efficiently through the middle and end of the mediation process.

These three options offer a place to begin based on how much agreement you already have and the complexity of the parenting issues you need to work through.

The Basic

5-Hour Mediation Option
“We agree on almost everything.”

A good starting place for parents who are generally on the same page about parenting and their custody arrangements. You may need help working through some details and writing up a clear, comprehensive parenting plan.

Includes 5 hours of mediation services: a 30-minute individual intake with each parent, three 60-minute joint mediation sessions, and one 60-minute final session to review, refine and sign the agreement. Intake and goals/interests paperwork are included at no additional charge.

This may be a good fit if: You agree on most parenting decisions, have relatively few areas of disagreement, and primarily need help turning your shared understanding into a workable parenting plan.

Moving Ahead

8-Hour Mediation Option
“We agree about half the time.”

Designed for parents who have some common ground but also have several areas that need discussion, problem-solving, and negotiation.

Includes 8 hours of mediation services: a 45-minute individual intake with each parent, six 60-minute joint mediation sessions, and one 30-minute final session to review and sign the agreement. Intake and goals/interests paperwork are included at no additional charge.

This may be a good fit if: You agree on some aspects of parenting but differ on others and would benefit from more time to understand each other’s concerns, explore options, and develop agreements.

Making Headway

10-Hour Mediation Option
“We have a hard time finding agreement.”
“There are special needs to consider.”
“Our situation is complicated.”

Designed for parents who have significant areas of disagreement and/or additional complexity that requires more time and careful consideration in developing their parenting plan.

Includes 10 hours of mediation services: a 45-minute individual intake with each parent, eight 60-minute joint mediation sessions, and one 30-minute final session to review and sign the agreement. Intake and goals/interests paperwork are included at no additional charge.

This may be a good fit if: Parenting discussions frequently become difficult, there is at least one complex issue or special needs, and/or you need a more structured process for working through parenting decisions.

Not Sure Where to Start?

You don’t need to know exactly how many sessions you will need before beginning. These packages provide a starting place based on where the two of you are now.

Every family and parenting plan is different, so I cannot guarantee that your agreement will be completed within a particular number of sessions. If you reach the end of your package and would benefit from more time, additional 60-minute mediation sessions can be added à la carte. This gives you structure at the outset without requiring you to predict exactly how long the process will take.

I also provide each parent with a Help List of Cost Deflators and Inflators—practical ways you can help keep the mediation process moving efficiently and manage costs along the way.