Parent Support

Parenting is difficult at the best of times. Parenting after separation or at the time of separation, can feel impossible. Parents are naturally struggling with their own emotions and feelings, and in particular their sometimes hostile feelings towards the other parent. At a time when it feels almost impossible and certainly unwelcome, it is more important than ever for parents to work together for the sake of their children. Children need their parents to be there for them, following separation. If parents are able to work together (subject to any safeguarding concerns) and put their children’s needs at the centre of their decision making, children are much less likely to suffer any negative consequences as a result of the separation.

Conflict between parents can make children feel sad and anxious and worried about how their parents are doing. Here are a couple of links that you may find help you improve the way you talk to each other:

https://click.clickrelationships.org/content/all-issues/course-getting-it-right-for-children/in/girfc-stop-part-one/

This is a short course provided by OnePlusOne which is a relationships charity. You will need to register, but registering is easy. There are lots of very useful resources on their website.

Click on this link http://www.seeitdifferently.org/ to see a video of 4 families, learning to “see it differently.” Parents have fed back saying that this really helped them to look at things in a different light and with a focus on the impact of what is happening on their children.

The following are the kinds of support that might be helpful:

Separated Parents Information Programme. Use this link to find one in your area: https://www.cafcass.gov.uk/grown-ups/parents-and-carers/divorce-and-separation/separated-parents-information-programme/
Devon Children and Families Partnership offer valuable help and support to children and parents. Go to the Early Help tab on their website at https://www.dcfp.org.uk/early-help/
Oneplusone on https://www.oneplusone.org.uk/our-resources, uses Click, which is described as a digital relationship support and skills service. There are some excellent resources on this site
Devon Family Resources is an Exeter Community Initiatives Service that helps families with emotional and practical issues. See their website at https://familyresource.eci.org.uk/aboutdevonfamilysupport/ or call on 01392 205800
Family Ties Contact Services, based in Devon offers a wide variety of support services for parents, children and young people following separation. See this link: naccc.org.uk/centres/family-ties-contact-services-ltd-exeter/
Only Mums and Only Dads support families through separation in Devon as well as nationally. See their website at www.onlymums.org and www.onlydads.org
The Centre for Separated Families provides useful support, guidance and information for separated families. See their website on https://www.separatedfamilies.info
Kids Come First – Separated Parent Support and Training Workshops; call 07789 497275 or email kidscomefirstuk@mail.com
Action for Children Parent Talk; If you would like one to one parenting advice, click on this link parents.actionforchildren.org.uk
Exeter Children's Centre provides a range of targetd services for families with children 0-8. See this link:www.actionforchildren.org.uk/how-we-can-help/our-local-services/find-our-services-near-you/exeter-childrens-centre/
Parenting Apart Programme; clink on this link www.parentingapartprogramme.co.uk
For Baby's Sake offers valuable support and guidance and tools for being able to take postive steps for change. See this link: www.forbabyssake.org.uk/for-parents/
Feegans Parening after family breakdown course; Click on www.fegans.org.uk/courses/parenting-post-separation-course/

Testimonials

The mediations sessions that my husband and I received helped us enormously to discuss in an amicable way our finances going forward in our divorce and therefore reaching a settlement amicably. The sessions we received via zoom worked extremely well especially as my husband was then living abroad enabling us to carry on with the process in a manner which didn't instigate relationship tensions which both parties felt developed during negotiations with our respective solicitors.

Adrienne remained professional and sensitive to the upset and trauma that divorce can cause to either party. I felt that her mediation was clear, time efficient and with the ability to diffuse situations which at times became heated in a gentle but controlled manner.

I would most certainly have no hesitation in recommending Adrienne to anyone who unfortunately finds themselves going through a divorce. I would like to add that mediation not only saved my husband and I most certainly large solicitor fees but more than this it has enabled us to separate in an amicable way which at one time felt impossible. After 11 years of marriage this has been a gift in order to remember the good that we had together and not to be bitter because of the nature of the divorce process.

I can't fully express really just how helpful, reassuring and supportive I found working with you to be. You helped me to find a way through such difficult discussions and decisions at such a confusing and vulnerable time. Thank you so very much.

I was really pleased with it. I felt comfortable that we were going through things with a level headed, tactful guide.

I cannot think of any way to improve your service. It was especially tricky through lockdown and the fact that we were able to keep meeting in a safe, supportive and productive way was amazing.

Mediation with you exceeded my expectations. Having had several sessions with a different mediation service, I was apprehensive and actually pretty fearful of how the process would leave me feeling. You always made me feel reassured and I felt that our family was in good hands. Your calm and sensitive approach, along with your considerable expertise was invaluable and I so appreciated your honesty and objectivity. I always felt listened to and that the whole experience was impartial and balanced, with the welfare of the girls at the centre of everything. I would have been happy and confident for you to meet with the girls had we reached that point, knowing that you would be sensitive to them and their needs too.

Thank you so much for all your help and advice. I have found the experience invaluable and still often refer back to some of the things we talked about to guide my decisions and actions.

You were very helpful and approachable and fair. You kept us on track when conversations went off on a tangent & allowed us to reach a satisfactory conclusion.

I would highly recommend Adrienne Cox for any couple who is going through a divorce ( and especially where a young child is involved as was in our situation ). Adrienne is very professional, highly skilled and knowledgeable.

It has been a long road with many ups and downs between myself and my husband but Adrienne has always remained very professional, neutral and very patient. We got there in the end, thanks to Adrienne,with an amicable, healthy relationship between ourselves which is the best outcome possible for our Son and a clearer future for us all.

I was very impressed with your professional service and the way the sessions were conducted in a calm and understanding environment.

I am satisfied and convinced that I couldn't have found a more competent, professional and sympathetic mediator and mediation service than that offered by yourself and your mediation service.

Just to let you know that the consent order has now been approved, the house transferred and the decree of absolute through, so all done and dusted thanks to mediation.

I didn't know what to expect having never been through it before but was very satisfied with your service. I really didn't know where to turn but your service really helped me.

The client reported that the mediation with you was really good. You were understanding but firm and he said he thought they had all come away from mediation feeling progress had been made with them all having compromised.