Common Ground Co-Parenting Group: Practical tools for respectful, child-focused co-parenting

8-Week Virtual Experience

The Common Ground Co-Parenting Group is a therapist-led, skills-based group designed for parents navigating high-conflict co-parenting relationships. This group is appropriate for court-mandated participants as well as voluntary parents who want to develop effective co-parenting skills—whether they are partnered, separated, divorced, or parenting from separate households.

​

The focus of this group is not on repairing the adult relationship, but on building the tools necessary to co-parent successfully and responsibly, even when communication is strained or direct cooperation is limited. Parents will learn practical strategies for parallel parenting, conflict de-escalation, and clear, child-centered communication, with an emphasis on consistency, boundaries, and emotional regulation. Completion certificates and attendance verification may be provided upon request for court or legal purposes.

Skills addressed include:

• Maintaining a child-focused mindset in decision-making

• Communicating clearly and appropriately with a co-parent

• Reducing conflict and managing emotional reactivity

• Setting and respecting boundaries between households

• Navigating transitions, schedules, and shared responsibilities

• Supporting children’s emotional well-being across two homes

• Understanding the impact of conflict on children’s development

​

This group aligns with common court system expectations, including:

• Emphasis on the best interests of the child

• Accountability for respectful behavior and participation

• Education on the effects of parental conflict on children

• Skill-building to reduce ongoing conflict and litigation

• Documentation of attendance and participation when required

Eligibility Criteria

Participants must meet all of the following:

• Be a parent or legal guardian of at least one minor child

• Be involved in a co-parenting relationship, whether partnered, separated, divorced, or parenting from separate households

• Be willing to participate in a therapist-led, skills-based group focused on child-centered co-parenting

• Be able to engage respectfully in a group setting, even when discussing challenging topics

• Agree to group guidelines regarding confidentiality, respectful communication, and participation

• Court-mandated participants must provide documentation of the court order prior to the start of group

Both voluntary and court-ordered parents are welcome, provided they meet the above criteria.

Exclusion Criteria

This group is not appropriate for individuals who:

• Are involved in ongoing intimate partner violence, coercive control, or safety-related concerns between co-parents

• Have an active protective or restraining order that prohibits communication or joint participation without court approval

• Are currently engaged in litigation where participation in a group setting would create legal or safety concerns

• Require intensive individual therapy, crisis intervention, or substance-use treatment that would interfere with group participation

• Are unable or unwilling to adhere to group rules regarding respectful conduct, emotional regulation, and confidentiality

*Parents experiencing high emotional distress, severe hostility, or safety concerns may be referred to individual therapy or alternative services better suited to their needs.

Additional Requirements & Expectations

• Attendance at all sessions is strongly encouraged; attendance verification may be provided when required by the court

• This group is educational and therapeutic, not evaluative and not a substitute for custody evaluations or legal counsel

• Participation does not guarantee changes in custody, visitation, or legal outcomes

Leaders: Diamond-Ariya Mazie, MFTi; Imani Akil, MFTi

Location: Virtual (Zoom link will be provided)

Start date: Saturday, February 21, 2026

Time: 12pm-1pm

Length: 8 weeks

Cost: $240 per participant

​

We aim to make this group accessible while maintaining a safe, effective learning environment for all participants.