High Conflict CoParenting Project

High-Conflict Co-Parenting Project- Terms of Participation
Dear Mr. ______________&_Mr./Ms.____________________
This contract is to follow up and clarify the conditions under which we might work together:
1. As we have discussed, the HCCPP is a child-focused, directive counseling intervention that aims to prevent and treat co-parenting issues for the betterment of your child/ren’s future.
2. HCCPP is a group of independently licensed mental health providers that have a special interest and training in responding to the needs of children and highly conflicted families. As individual practitioners we may charge different rates and have different office policies. Please review the intake documents closely with your co-parent therapist and resolve any questions regarding these policies before beginning our work together. 3. It is understood that all exchanges in our work together are to be held in strict confidence. Certain expectations to confidentiality exist, such as having a reasonable suspicion for an individual’s health or safety
4. Our roles are as neutral facilitators. We will not act as an advocate for either party or attempt to influence the outcome in any way. We are not attorneys, accountants or custody evaluators. If you will need this assistance we will refer you out to an appropriate professional.
5. HCCPP should not be confused with psychotherapy, mediation, or litigation. Our work together will not be focused on your needs. It does assist you in resolving past issues and solving current ones with the other parent.
6. Your role is not only as the child(ren)’s parent, but as a responsible co-parent to your child(ren)’s other caregiver(s). You will be responsible to arrive for HCCPP meetings as scheduled, to follow through with assigned tasks or homework, to participate constructively in this process, to pay for services as described below, and to put your child(ren)’s needs first in all instances.
7. Our first meeting is scheduled for____________________. The meeting will be 90 minutes long. We will meet for 60 minutes in the four-way meeting, then you will each have a chance to de-brief with your co-parent counselor for 15 minutes.
8. We reserve the right to cancel sessions if either party is more than 20 minutes tardy. If other under conditions exist that preclude a productive meeting we also have the right to cancel the meeting at our discretion. If this occurs, the full fee is still owed. The party that cancels the session pays the full fee unless otherwise discussed. We are not a licensed childcare facility so children should never be brought into our sessions or left unattended in our office waiting rooms or outside property.
9. If we judge that you are not complying with these terms and/or if we determine that you are not benefitting from this approach, then we have the right to end our work together. The reasons will be clearly discussed to develop an appropriate termination plan.

10. We ask that each of you sign an authorization allowing us to exchange any and all relevant information with the child specialist, your attorneys and other relevant treatment providers, which may include school personnel and Family Court Services. If your attorney contacts one of us regarding your case, please be advised that a consultation is only possible if BOTH co-parent counselors can be present. Ex-parte communication is in violation to the neutral roles we uphold.
11. Because HCCPP is a goal-oriented process and because the conflict that brings you to us is likely a very emotional matter, we advise for each participant to simultaneously participate in individual counseling or psychotherapy. This kind of adjunct support often helps participants enter each meeting in as constructive a manner as possible.
12. The agreements created through HCCPP are not automatically sanctioned by the court. You always have the right to bring any matter discussed in the course of this intervention before the court. However, your participation in HCCPP represents your willingness to settle child-centered matters outside of court in your child(ren)’s best interests. We agree to resist court-involvement unless absolutely necessary. At times the court-process can misconstrue and antagonize in what is already troubled relationship. If you are unwillingly to create agreements in-session without first consulting your attorney, or if you feel the need to consult with your attorney after each session, this is not the right process for you.
13. Nonetheless, if you chose to return to court, please be advised that each therapist will charge their standard fee for all court-related matters, including deposition, travel to and from, and appearance in court per hour. We agree to bring in copies of all current and updated mediation recommendations, court orders or any other necessary documents as requested.
Thank-you very much in advance for reviewing these terms. Please review these terms with your counsel as necessary and feel free to contact us with any questions. Your signature below signifies that you understand and accept the above terms of participation in HCCP. This should be returned at the start of our first four-way meeting together. Thank-you again!
_____________________________________ Client Signature
______________________________________ Client Signature
____________ Date
___________ Date 

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