New Ways for families™ Coaching
New Ways For Families™ is a research supported, structured parent coaching model designed by Bill Eddy LCSW Esq. and the High Conflict Institute. This model teaches parents new ways to think, behave, navigate emotions, communicate, and make decisions during separation, divorce, and on-going co-parenting situations. It supports building long-term skills that focus on protecting children from the negative impacts of parental conflict. It emphasizes positive future behaviors rather than past negative situations and has a no blame/no shame approach.
New Ways For Families™ teaches “Four Big Skills” including:
· Flexible Thinking (avoiding “all or nothing” thinking & identifying more than one solution to most problems).
· Managed Emotions (controlling one own’s emotions to reduce over-reacting).
· Moderate Behaviors (Avoid extreme actions and language).
· Checking yourself (Building self-awareness and incorporating on-going use of skills).
New Ways For Families™ strives to:
· Keep families out of court.
· Save people money.
· Support parents in making their own joint decisions.
· Reduce conflict.
· Protect children from the negative impacts of on-going parental conflict.
Parents participate in 3, 6, 9, or 12+ individualized coaching sessions while simultaneously completing a 12-module online parenting skills class. The Online Parenting Program is approved by the MN Judicial Branch to meet the parenting education requirement often ordered in family court proceedings. While this model is considered beneficial for all parents, it was designed specifically for high conflict situations, when other methods have not shown to be effective. Judges are encouraged to order parents to complete the parenting course WITH coaching sessions early on in a family court proceeding to support parents in building skills before making decisions.
Kirstina is a Licensed New Ways For Families™ coach and was trained by Bill Eddy LCSW, Esq. and the High Conflict Institute. Licensed New Ways For Families™ Coaches are required to be a master’s level professional with experience working with high conflict family systems.
