Parenting Coordination Institute

“Not what’s wrong with you. What happened to you.”

That’s the reframe at the heart of a new documentary, Traumality (2026, by Ton Mazzone) and it’s one every lawyer and service provider should sit with.

The film’s argument, backed by leading voices in trauma, attachment and polyvagal theory shows that our mental health systems still run on a medical model of symptom, diagnosis, label. But a growing body of evidence says many of the diagnoses we hand out are actually the visible edge of unresolved childhood trauma and adversity. Treat the label and you miss the cause. No wonder we have a mental health crisis and soaring rates of su***de.

For those of us working in law that reframe isn’t academic. It’s the parent who won’t compromise. The client who escalates instead of settling. The behaviour we file under “high conflict” because it’s easier than asking what’s underneath it.

Traumality doesn’t ask us to excuse behaviour. It asks us to understand it and to consider what our processes look like when they’re built for that understanding, instead of against it.

Delighted to collaborate with LawCPD.com.au and Sarah Mateljan on this project. One thing I heard consistently in my international research into best practice in parenting coordination (PC) was the need to educate lawyers, mediators and judges on the practice of PC and its usefulness when it comes to helping parents navigate high conflict dynamics so they don’t have to keep returning to court when they have disputes.

This course provides a great overview of the practice of parenting coordination for lawyers, family dispute resolution professionals and anyone working with family law clients. If you need more information please get in touch with me at The Parenting Coordination Institute - [email protected]
Thank you to the Winston Churchill Trust (Australia) for their ongoing support too.
Link to course- in bio

One of the most important conversations a Parenting Coordinator has is the one that happens before the process even begins. Setting expectations clearly right from the start. Families come to PC after a long road. Court, conflict, broken trust, sometimes many years of it. So it’s natural to hope this will be the turning point. The moment someone finally sees the full picture and holds the other parent accountable.

But real progress looks different. It’s slower, steadier, and far less dramatic than that. It takes commitment. A skilled Parenting Coordinator keeps the parents on track making decisions in the children’s interests. Doing that well means constant, careful calibration, staying even-handed enough that neither parent feels unheard, while still being clear enough that the process actually goes somewhere.

Part of the work is educational, helping parents see how their choices shape outcomes and how ongoing conflict impacts their kids. But a Parenting Coordinator can’t rewrite someone’s character. Genuine change is something only the parents themselves can choose to do.

The families who get the most out of PC are usually the ones who understood, early on, what the process could realistically offer and what it couldn’t.

This is a reflection from Judge Lynn Tepper (ret) - Sixth Judicial Circuit of Florida (2005). Her reflection captures a critical truth, that many adults who enter the justice system were once children whose trauma was never recognised, supported or addressed. Hence those working in the court system must help people heal or intervene and prevent further damage.

Trauma does not excuse harmful behaviour but it can help us understand what sits beneath it. When courts, lawyers and professionals in the justice system understand adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), nervous-system responses and the long-term impact of trauma they are better equipped to respond in ways that promote safety, accountability and meaningful change.

A trauma-informed justice system does not ask only:
“What has this person done?”
It also asks:
“What may have happened to them, how has it shaped their behaviour, and what support could reduce the risk of further harm?”

Early intervention and trauma-responsive practice can help prevent further harm, improve engagement with legal processes and create better outcomes for individuals, families and communities.

The Parenting Coordination Institute’s Trauma-Informed Parenting Coordination Training is designed in line with the best practice guidelines of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts and equips professionals with the knowledge, practical skills and confidence to work effectively with families experiencing entrenched conflict, trauma and the real-world challenges of implementing parenting arrangements.

I am delighted to be co-facilitating this program with Tony Pelusi, an internationally respected Parenting Coordinator, experienced trainer and practitioner from the United States. Together, we bring both international perspectives and practical experience to this interactive program.

Delivered over six weeks, the course combines:
• Live weekly online classes
• Self-paced learning modules
• Practical tools, frameworks and case-based discussions.

As this program is delivered online, it is suitable for professionals from Australia and around the world who want to build specialist expertise in this growing field.

To learn more or enroll email [email protected] or DM me.
Parenting Coordination Institute – Trauma-Informed Parenting Coordination Training⁠

High-conflict coparenting matters need more than process, it needs skilled, trauma-informed practice.

The Parenting Coordination Institute’s Trauma-Informed Parenting Coordination Training is designed in line with the AFCCs best practice PC guidelines and equips professionals to work with complex post-separation dynamics including entrenched conflict, trauma and the real-world challenges of implementing parenting arrangements.

This 6-week program includes live weekly classes, self-paced learning and practical tools to help practitioners understand the role, structure and application of Parenting Coordination in complex post-separation matters. The training is suitable for family lawyers, mediators, FDR practitioners, family report writers, psychologists, social workers and independent children’s lawyers.

You can also choose to do the training if you don’t intend practising as a PC but want to better understand the process and use the skills when working with high conflict clients.

Get in touch for more details or to enrol.

Training | Enhance Your Skills Today — Parenting Coordination Institute Discover Parenting Coordination training for professionals, offering practical skills, certification, and ongoing development to effectively manage high-conflict families.