Families
When everyone at home is talking past each other.
Family sessions give parents and teens one hour where the rules are different: one person speaks at a time, nobody storms off, and the quiet ones get asked first.
Teens and parents
Teenagers talk more when it isn't a lecture.
We see families with children from about 12 to 19. A teen who sits with arms crossed in the first session is completely normal. We don't push them to open up. We make the room safe enough that, after a few weeks, they often do.
Parents sometimes come in alone first, to talk about what is happening without their teen hearing every worry. After that, most sessions include the teen, and now and then we meet the teen on their own for part of the hour.
Families often come about
- Constant arguments over phones, school or curfew
- A teen who has gone silent or withdrawn
- Siblings who can't share a room, or a car
- A blended family finding its footing
- A move, a death or a big change at home
- Parents who disagree on how to handle it all
Co-parenting after a separation
You are not a couple anymore. You are still both parents.
Co-parenting sessions are for two separated parents who want the handovers, the schedules and the messages to go more smoothly for their children. We focus on the next year, not on who was right.
Parents can meet together, or online from two homes if being in one room is too hard right now. New partners can join later if everyone agrees.
What co-parenting sessions are not
- A custody or parenting assessment
- A report, letter or recommendation for court
- Mediation of a legal agreement
If you need one of these, we can point you toward people who do that work.
Who comes to which session
Not everyone, every time.
We plan who is in the room with you. This is the usual pattern, and we adjust it for your family.
| Session | Who usually comes | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Parents first | The parent or parents only | Space to describe what is going on without the children hearing it all |
| Whole family | Parents and the teens involved | Everyone hears everyone, with someone keeping the turns fair |
| Teen time | The teen, for part of a session | A chance to say what they won't say in front of parents |
| Co-parenting | Both separated parents, together or online | Schedules, handovers and messages that work for the children |
| Check-in | Whoever the family chooses | Spacing out sessions and agreeing on what comes next |
Some families start with everyone in the room. Some start with just the adults. Both are fine.