Parenting doesn’t come with a roadmap — and when a relationship ends, the path forward can feel especially uncertain. For unmarried parents, navigating custody arrangements, parenting schedules, and child support outside of a traditional divorce process can feel overwhelming, adversarial, and painfully unclear.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
As a professional family law mediator, combined with specialized training as a Certified Co-Parenting Coach, I offer a unique and integrated approach that helps parents move from conflict to cooperation — and craft a parenting plan that truly reflects the needs and values of their family.
A Different Kind of Support
Most legal processes are designed to resolve disputes — not to build relationships. Court battles over custody can leave both parents feeling like they lost, and their children caught in the middle. Mediation changes that dynamic entirely.
Drawing on my family law mediation qualifications alongside my co-parenting coaching certification, I work with parents to:
- Develop a customized parenting plan that addresses both legal custody (decision-making) and physical custody (living arrangements)
- Run Virginia Child Support Guidelines Worksheets to reach agreement on child support arrangements that reflect your family’s real circumstances
- Navigate modifications to existing parenting agreements when life changes require a fresh approach
- Build the communication tools and co-parenting skills you’ll need long after the paperwork is signed
Why the Combination Matters
Mediation alone can produce a legal agreement. Coaching alone can build better communication habits. But together, they address both the practical and the personal dimensions of co-parenting — which is where lasting, workable solutions actually come from.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
- Managing emotions: before they escalate into conflict, so decisions are made from a place of clarity rather than reactivity.
- Understanding your impact: on your children’s development and adjusting how you communicate accordingly.
- Envisioning the future: you want for your family — and working backwards to build an agreement that supports that vision.
- Age-appropriate parenting support: so your plan reflects what your child actually needs at each stage of development.
- Communication skills: between co-parents and with your children, including how to handle difficult conversations.
- Conflict management strategies: so disagreements don’t derail your co-parenting relationship.
- Navigating family dynamics: including blended families, extended family involvement, and evolving circumstances.
Who This Is For
This integrated service is designed for:
- Unmarried parents who need to establish an initial parenting plan and/or child support agreement.
- Parents who are ready to move out of conflict and into a cooperative co-parenting relationship.
- Families seeking a parenting arrangement that is tailored to their unique needs — not a one-size-fits-all order entered by a judge who can’t truly understand your circumstances or your children’s needs.
- Co-parents looking to modify an existing custody or support agreement as circumstances change.
If you’re tired of feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or at odds with your co-parent — and you’re ready to focus on what actually matters most, your children’s wellbeing — this work is for you.
Child-Centered. Family-Specific. Built to Last.
Every family is different. Your parenting plan should reflect that. Rather than fighting over a standard template, we work together to craft an agreement that honors your children’s needs, your family’s values, and the practical realities of your lives.
More importantly, we don’t just focus on the document — we focus on the relationship. Because once the agreement is signed, you’re still co-parents. The communication skills, emotional awareness, and conflict-resolution strategies you develop through this process will serve you and your children for years to come.
Ready to Move Forward?
Taking the first step toward a more cooperative co-parenting relationship is one of the most powerful things you can do for your children. Whether you’re starting from scratch or revisiting an existing agreement, I’m here to help you find a way forward that works — for everyone.
Contact our office today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward clarity, resilience, and a co-parenting relationship grounded in cooperation.
