Parenting Coordination in Postseparation Disputes

Parenting coordination is a sophisticated, collaborative effort among psychologists, counselors, social workers, mediators, and legal professionals that helps divorcing parents avoid further litigation while working together in the best interests of their child.

This one-stop text contains all the information legal and mental health providers need to manage and resolve high-conflict custody disputes outside of the courts. Initial chapters describe the history of the field and the basic competencies needed to undertake parenting coordination work as well as the practical necessities for running a parenting coordination practice.

The authors guide readers through the often difficult push-pull of parenting coordination sessions and describe empirically validated behavioral change techniques that bring results with even the most high-conflict parents. Suggestions for dealing with domestic violence are also provided.

Additional resources include practice guidelines from APA and the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts.

Contributors

Acknowledgements

Introduction
Shirley Ann Higuchi and Stephen J. Lally

I. Background to Parenting Coordination

1. Origins and Development of Parenting Coordination
   Joan B. Kelly
2. Legal Standards and Issues Associated With Parenting Coordination
   Margaret J. McKinney, Linda A. Delaney, and Alan Nessman
3. Competencies Required for Conducting Parenting Coordination
   Stephen J. Lally and Robin M. Deutsch
4. Parenting Coordination: Basic Approaches and Strategies
   Robin M. Deutsch

II. The Practice of Parenting Coordination

5. Creation, Development, and Management of a Parenting Coordination Practice
   Matthew J. Sullivan
6. Ethical Issues and Risk Management in Parenting Coordination
   Robin M. Deutsch and Stephen J. Lally
7. Strategies for Working With Difficult Clients
   Matthew J. Sullivan
8. Setting Up a Parenting Coordination Project in the Courts: The District of Columbia Program
   Stephen J. Lally, Shirley Ann Higuchi, and Jennifer Joyner-Hall

III. Special Issues and Populations

9. Including Children in the Parenting Coordination Process: A Specialized Role
   Joan B. Kelly
10. Parenting Coordination and Diversity Issues
    Giselle A. Hass
11. Parenting Coordination and Domestic Violence
    Giselle A. Hass
12. Collaboration With Attorneys
    Margaret J. McKinney, Linda A. Delaney, and Alan Nessman

IV. The Future of Parenting Coordination

13. Charting the Challenging Path Toward Establishment of Parenting Coordination's Efficacy
    Debra K. Carter and Stephen J. Lally
14. The Future of Parenting Coordination
    Joan B. Kelly and Shirley Ann Higuchi

Index

About the Editors

Shirley Ann Higuchi, Esq., is the associate executive director of legal and regulatory affairs for APA. In this role, Ms. Higuchi manages all aspects of a complex agenda focused on developing and implementing legal and regulatory strategies to achieve optimal psychologist participation in the health care field. Topics covered include managed care, class action litigation, state health care reform, Medicaid, professional licensing, scope of practice, confidentiality, telehealth, and parenting coordination.

Through her work at APA, Ms. Higuchi has contributed to the field of parenting coordination by offering training workshops, developing practice guidelines, supporting research, and helping launch the Office of the Parenting Coordinator in the District of Columbia Superior Court.

Ms. Higuchi is active in the DC Bar, having served on the Board of Governors from 1994 to 2000, as chair of the Bar's Nominations Committee in 2001, and as president in 2003. She recently completed a 6-year term on the Judicial Tenure and Disabilities Commission for the DC Courts.

Ms. Higuchi has received several prestigious awards, including the Lever Award, the Honorable Annice M. Wagner Pioneer Award, and the United Planning Organization Community Service Award.

In addition to her service to the legal and psychological communities, Ms. Higuchi is chair of the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation, which provides education, policy, and research on the experiences of the Japanese Americans wrongly incarcerated during World War II.

Prior to joining APA, Ms. Higuchi was in private practice with the law firm of Epstein Becker & Green, PC.

She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and her law degree from Georgetown University.

Stephen J. Lally, PhD, ABPP, is a professor in the clinical psychology program at American School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Washington, DC. He is the past president of the National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology. He received his diplomate in forensic psychology from the American Board of Professional Psychology.

Dr. Lally is the past president of the District of Columbia Psychology Association, a former APA Council Representative for DC, and a past member of APA's Committee for Professional Practice and Standards. He has presented and published in the areas of assessment, ethics, and forensic psychology.

Dr. Lally has a part-time forensic and clinical practice in the Washington, DC, area.

Welcome to the clinician and practitioner resources for Parenting Coordination in Postseparation Disputes: A Comprehensive Guide for Practitioners. The documents are intended for personal use by parenting coordinators. Permission from respective copyright holders is required to reprint or adapt this material for publication.

• Appendix A: Jordan v. Jordan, DC Court of Appeals, 3/10/11 (PDF, 238KB)opens in new window
• Appendix B: Guidelines for the Practice of Parenting Coordination (APA) (PDF, 77KB)opens in new window
• Appendix C: Guidelines for Parenting Coordination (AFCC) [PDF, 172KB]opens in new window
• Appendix D: The PC Project Implementation and Outcomes Study Report (PDF, 67KB)opens in new window
• Appendix 4.1: Parenting Plan Categories (PDF, 14KB)opens in new window
• Appendix 5.1: Sample Summary Letter (PDF, 10KB)opens in new window
• Appendix 5.2: Batched E-Mails (PDF, 13KB)opens in new window
• Appendix 5.3: Informed Consent for Internet Use (PDF, 7KB)opens in new window
• Appendix 7.1: Stipulation and Order Appointing Special Master, Superior Court of California (PDF, 244KB)opens in new window