Co-Parenting your children mitigates the damage of divorce.  Today Mary Jeppsen teaches us some of her tried and true tools to co-parent well.  Mary has been a counselor for 15 years, primarily working with children, couples and families. Prior to becoming a licensed professional counselor, and earning a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision, she raised 11 children, so she has lots of family experience. 

We begin by working through how do you address the fact that you are getting divorced with your kids.  Mary advises to be specific with limited details.  First approach your children together as a united front.  We know this isn't easy but it is imperative that your kids hear the details from both of you together.  Kids want to know they will have both of you in their lives after divorce.  Most important make sure your kids feel safe.  Tell your children how it is going work so they understand that you have everything under control.  Mary is licensed in the States of Arkansas and Alabama, and is a Certified Daring Way™ facilitator ( with the work of Brene' Brown). She has worked with two non-profits with children and teens and owned a successful private counseling practice in Rogers, Arkansas for 7 years. In 2020, she and her husband started a new private counseling practice, Jeppsen Counseling, and they have been doing virtual counseling since. She now resides at Dauphin Island, Alabama with her husband, Mike , who is a counselor, and their youngest child, Serah , who has Down Syndrome. Mike and Mary offer private Marital Enrichment weekends  now on Dauphin Island. In 2018 Mary published , "Working With Co-parents, a Manual for Therapists through Routledge Press" .