Co-parenting Plan Mediator Certificate Course: Create a Peaceful, Effective Co-parenting Strategy for Divorcing or Separating Clients

Credits

Speaker

Merriam Sarcia Saunders, LMFT Related seminars and products

---

Merriam Sarcia Saunders is a seasoned Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over fifteen years of diverse experience in counseling children and adults across private practice, school settings, and case management. She holds advanced training in child and adolescent treatment from UC Berkeley and is a Certified Clinical Services Provider (ADHD-CCSP) with specialized expertise in ADHD, autism, and coaching for ADHD.

With certifications in divorce and special education meditation, she has served as a special education mediator for the Marin County Office of Education, advocating for children with special needs. She is also trained as a special master/parent coordinator and contributes as a panelist for Marin County Family Court’s Case Settlement Conferences.

Dedicated to promoting resilience and healing, she is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and a Certified Mindfulness Clinical Practitioner. Her passion for co-parenting mediation led her to develop a specialized parenting plan mediation course for mental health professionals, empowering others to foster a peaceful and successful co-parenting strategy for families going through transitions. Join this transformative course and make a positive impact on families and children seeking support during challenging times.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Merriam Saunders maintains a private practice and has an employment relationship with Dominican University. She receives royalties as a published author. Merriam Saunders receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Merriam Saunders has no relevant non-financial relationships.

 

Additional Info

For live CE credit, you must watch the live webcast in its entirety at its scheduled time and complete the CE quiz and evaluation within one week. You will have access for 90 days after the program for review.

Please note: There will be a 70-minute lunch and two 15-minute breaks; one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Lunch and break times will be announced by the speaker and at their discretion. A more detailed schedule is available upon request.

Visit our FAQ page at www.pesi.com/faq or contact us at www.pesi.com/info

Objectives

1. Understand the role and responsibilities of a custody mediator, including legal frameworks and ethical considerations.
2. Assess families’ needs to develop child-centered parenting plans that serve the best interest of the child.
3. Gain expertise in active listening, effective communication, problem-solving, and negotiation techniques for successful mediation.
4. Identify and address power imbalances, high-conflict situations, and difficult personalities in custody mediation.
5. Apply knowledge of child development, attachment theory, and family systems theory to inform the mediation process and parenting plan development.
6. Deepen cultural competence to work effectively with diverse populations in custody mediation settings.

Outline

Foundations of Mediation for Mental Health Professionals

• Differentiating negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and conciliation
• Define goals and styles of mediation
• Key mediator skills
• Mediator responsibilities and role induction

Mediation Process: Step by Step

• Essential documents and office policies
• Preparation for successful mediation
• Create a collaborative environment
• Master the 5-step mediation process
• Craft agreements aligned with parties’ goals
• Resolve impasses through individual meetings
• Overcome common stuck points
• Conclude sessions confidently with clear next steps

Divorce, Mental Health, and Childhood Attachment

• Attachment theory and child development
• Emotional impacts on children and support strategies
• Age-specific custody plans with attachment in mind
• Effects of high marital conflict and negative behaviors
• Positive impacts of collaborative divorce
• Handling suicidal clients during divorce

Harnessing Motivational Interviewing in Mediation

• Overview and stages of Motivational Interviewing
• Using MI to identify values and goals
• Applying open-ended questions and reflective listening
• Avoiding pitfalls in conflict resolution

Managing High-Conflict Couples

• Analyze and contain conflict
• Address common conflict sources
• Deescalating anger and manage power imbalances
• Monitor and adjust faltering agreements
• Handle parent procrastination and changes
• Recognize process failure and termination

Working with Diverse Populations

• Address cultural biases and stereotypes
• Culturally responsive interventions
• LGBTQ+ coparent challenges
• Special needs child considerations
• Blended family dynamics

Real-World Practice & Application

• Case studies and examples
• Attracting mediation clients and pricing
• Manage burnout and professional liability
• Mediation limitations and referrals

After Mediation

• Co-parent counseling if needed
• Parenting plan maintenance and amendments
• Ongoing communication protocols
• Address lingering emotional issues

Laws & Ethics

• Understand family law and confidentiality
• Clarify neutral roles vs. advocates
• Avoid dual roles and ethical considerations
• Limitations

Target Audience

• Psychologists
• Psychiatrists
• Counselors
• Social Workers
• Psychotherapists
• Marriage and Family Therapists
• Case Managers
• Addiction Counselors
• Physicians
• Nurses
• Other Mental Health Professionals