Parenting & Co-Parenting
Counselling in Lethbridge
Parenting can be one of life’s greatest joys—and one of its greatest challenges.
Whether you’re struggling with everyday parenting stress, navigating conflict with your child, adjusting to separation or divorce, or trying to build a healthier co-parenting relationship, you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Together we can explore what’s happening beneath the surface, strengthen communication, reduce conflict, and help you respond from a calmer, more intentional place.
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Is this where you find yourself?
- Parenting feels harder than you expected.
- You’re constantly questioning whether you’re doing enough.
- Your child’s behaviour leaves you feeling frustrated, overwhelmed or helpless.
- You and your partner disagree about parenting.
- You’re navigating separation and trying to protect your children from conflict.
- Communication with your co-parent quickly turns into arguments.
- Every exchange feels emotionally exhausting.
- You’re trying to support your children while managing your own emotions.
- You want to parent differently than you were parented but find yourself repeating old patterns.
Why parenting can feel so difficult
The obvious answer feels like… because it is difficult. Most of us had no idea just how challenging parenting could be.
It seems like parenting should come naturally—after all, humans have been raising children for thousands of years. But parenting today comes with more challenges than ever before. We are bombarded with experts, research, and social media telling us what we should—or shouldn’t—be doing to raise our children, often with conflicting advice. Then there are the well-meaning opinions of family and friends, each convinced they know the “right” way to parent. Add in our own childhood experiences and the patterns we carry from them… exhausted yet?
Raising another human being is one of the hardest—and most important—things we’ll ever do. It’s no wonder we put enormous pressure on ourselves to get it right. We convince ourselves there’s a perfect way to parent, and if we don’t find it, we’ll somehow mess up our children forever.
One of my favourite parenting experts, Dr. Gordon Neufeld, puts it beautifully:
“The secret of parenting is not in what a parent does but rather who the parent is to the child.”
When we’re stressed, overwhelmed, or emotionally triggered, it becomes much harder to be the parent we want to be. Parenting becomes less about responding thoughtfully and more about simply getting through the day.
If separation or divorce is part of your family’s story, parenting can become even more complex. Alongside the day-to-day challenges of raising children, there may be grief, uncertainty, changing family roles, and the work of learning to co-parent while navigating your own emotions. You’re not only caring for your children—you may also be trying to heal yourself.
Parenting can be overwhelming, and when we’re overwhelmed, it’s much harder to show up as the parent we want to be.
Parenting isn’t about being perfect. It’s about becoming more aware of yourself so you can respond, rather than react.
Parenting and co-parenting counselling offers a space to slow down, make sense of what’s happening, and develop practical tools that help you feel more confident, connected, and intentional as a parent. Whether you’re parenting alongside a partner or learning to co-parent after separation, you don’t have to navigate it alone.
How counselling can help?
Parenting
- understand your child’s behaviour through a relational lens
- strengthen emotional regulation
- respond instead of react
- build confidence in your parenting
- create healthier family communication
- reduce power struggles
- break intergenerational patterns
Co-parenting
- communicate more effectively
- reduce conflict
- establish healthier boundaries
- focus on your children’s wellbeing
- navigate difficult conversations
- make parenting decisions with less stress
- learn strategies for high-conflict situations
My Approach
As a Registered Social Worker with over 25 years of experience, I take a relational, trauma-informed approach to parenting and co-parenting counselling. Rather than focusing only on children’s behaviours or strategies to manage them, we’ll explore the deeper patterns that influence how each of you experiences connection, conflict, and safety. Don’t worry—we can absolutely talk strategies too!
I draw from attachment theory, nervous system awareness, child development, and relationship research while tailoring our work to your unique family. Together, we’ll work to better understand what’s happening beneath the surface so you can respond with greater confidence, connection, and intention.
I don’t believe children need perfect parents. They benefit most from parents who are willing to understand themselves, repair when needed and keep growing alongside their children.
Who benefits from parenting or co-parenting counselling?
Parenting
- parents of young children
- parents of teens
- blended families
- parents navigating behavioural challenges
- parents feeling burned out
- parents wanting to break unhealthy family patterns
Co-Parenting
- newly separated parents
- divorced parents
- high-conflict co-parenting
- parallel parenting
- parenting after court involvement
- parents wanting healthier communication
Frequently Asked Questions
Do both parents need to attend?
It depends on your family’s unique circumstances and the relationships involved.
If you’re parenting together, attending counselling as a couple can help you get on the same page, strengthen your communication, and create more consistency for your children. That said, meaningful change can still happen if only one parent attends. Often, one parent begins making changes that positively influence the whole family, and they can share what they’re learning with their partner.
If you’re co-parenting after separation or divorce, there are several approaches we can take. Some co-parents choose to attend sessions together, and I have a thoughtful structure to support that process. Others prefer to attend individually, either with no communication between sessions or with agreed-upon information sharing to support your co-parenting goals.
We’ll decide together what approach best fits your family’s circumstances, your relationship, and—most importantly—what will best support your children.
Can children attend?
Parenting and co-parenting counselling is designed for parents rather than children, so this is not family counselling.
My approach focuses on supporting parents as the leaders of their family. Together, we’ll explore what’s happening beneath the surface, strengthen your understanding of yourself and your children, and develop practical strategies you can take home. My goal is to empower you to make meaningful changes that positively influence your entire family.
If you have a young baby and childcare is a challenge, let me know. In many cases, babies are welcome to attend with you, and we can discuss what will work best for your situation.
What if we're in the middle of separation?
This can actually be an ideal time to attend co-parenting counselling. Many parents worry they’ll have to figure all of this out on their own—but you don’t.
Co-parenting counselling requires that both parents are willing and able to have respectful conversations focused on what’s best for their children. Before meeting together, I require an individual session with each parent. This gives each of you the opportunity to share your perspective, ask questions, and ensure that meeting together is appropriate and likely to be productive.
Separation often brings grief, uncertainty, and more decisions than most people ever imagined having to make. It can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to care for your children while also navigating your own emotions.
My goal is to create a safe, structured space where both parents can have productive conversations about their children’s care and well-being. Together, we can work through topics such as parenting schedules, transitions between homes, communication, decision-making, and other issues that arise as your family adjusts to a new way of parenting.
While I can guide conversations around an outline parenting plan and help you work through areas of disagreement, I do not provide mediation or prepare formal parenting plans. If you’re working with lawyers or mediators, co-parenting counselling can complement that process by helping you build a healthier working relationship and keep your children’s needs at the centre.
What if we're in the middle of separation?
This can actually be an ideal time to attend co-parenting counselling. Many parents worry they’ll have to figure all of this out on their own—but you don’t.
Co-parenting counselling requires that both parents are willing and able to have respectful conversations focused on what’s best for their children. Before meeting together, I require an individual session with each parent. This gives each of you the opportunity to share your perspective, ask questions, and ensure that meeting together is appropriate and likely to be productive.
Separation often brings grief, uncertainty, and more decisions than most people ever imagined having to make. It can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to care for your children while also navigating your own emotions.
My goal is to create a safe, structured space where both parents can have productive conversations about their children’s care and well-being. Together, we can work through topics such as parenting schedules, transitions between homes, communication, decision-making, and other issues that arise as your family adjusts to a new way of parenting.
While I can guide conversations around an outline parenting plan and help you work through areas of disagreement, I do not provide mediation or prepare formal parenting plans. If you’re working with lawyers or mediators, co-parenting counselling can complement that process by helping you build a healthier working relationship and keep your children’s needs at the centre.
Can counselling help with high-conflict co-parenting?
Co-parenting counselling is most effective when both parents are willing to participate respectfully and are committed to keeping their children’s needs at the centre. If there is ongoing abuse, coercive control, or significant safety concerns, joint co-parenting counselling may not be appropriate. We can discuss your situation during an individual consultation and determine the best path forward.
Is co-parenting counselling right for you?
Co-parenting counselling may be a good fit if:
✓ You both want to reduce conflict for the benefit of your children.
✓ You’re willing to have respectful conversations, even when you don’t agree.
✓ You’re open to considering new perspectives and trying different approaches.
✓ You’re able to focus on your children’s needs, even while navigating your own emotions.
✓ You want to improve communication and make parenting decisions more collaboratively.
✓ You’re looking for guidance and practical tools rather than someone to decide who’s right or wrong.
✓ You’re willing to take responsibility for your own thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.
Co-parenting counselling may not be the best fit if:
- There is ongoing abuse, coercive control, or concerns about anyone’s safety.
- One parent is unwilling to participate respectfully or is attending only because they feel forced to.
- The primary goal is to gather evidence for court or to prove the other parent is wrong.
- One or both parents are unable to keep the focus on their children’s wellbeing.
For some families, successful co-parenting means working closely together. For others, it means learning to parent well with healthy boundaries and limited conflict. Together, we’ll determine what is realistic and in the best interests of your children.
If you’re unsure whether co-parenting counselling is right for your family, I’d be happy to talk with you. During our individual consultation sessions, we can explore your situation together and determine the approach that will best support you and your children. Sometimes that will be co-parenting counselling, and sometimes another type of support may be a better fit.
Parenting is one of the hardest—and most meaningful—relationships we’ll ever have.
Whether you’re parenting together, parenting apart, or simply trying to become the parent you want to be, you don’t have to do it alone.
I’d be honoured to support you.