Children Are Happier When Parents Resolve Their Conflict
Divorce-Related Services in St. Louis, MO
John Borders - Counselor and Consultant
Professional Services
I provide divorce mediation, co-parenting counseling, and parenting coordination services. My approach to each of these is the same -- to help parents to resolve their differences so as to minimize any negative impact upon their children. The extent of my involvement in the parents' decision-making process varies in each of these services. I am an impartial facilitator as Divorce Mediator, a more directive interventionist as Co-Parenting Counselor, and an arbitrator with decision-making authority as Parenting Coordinator.
The Benefits:
- The parents make the decisions -- not two attorneys, or a Guardian ad Litem, or a judge.
- It costs significantly less -- my fee is lower than an attorney's and is split between both parents. Otherwise, each parent hires an attorney, pays for a Guardian ad Litem (attorney for the child/rem), and pays the huge costs of going to court.
- Privacy -- Court cases are a matter of public record. Privately resolved disputes are not.
The Goals:
- Minimize Conflict
- Improve Information Sharing
- Establish Clear Boundaries
- Facilitate Joint Decision-Making
- Improve Parenting Skills
Confidentiality
All information is held in strict confidence. Unless there are safety concerns, information is not shared with family members, the courts, or others. Clients are asked to agree that they will not request access to any documents, or subpoena any records or testimony.
Insurance
I am not an in-network provider although you may submit claims to your insurance company for reimbursement. Note that insurance companies require a formal diagnosis of mental illness and typically do not cover divorce-related issues. Also, no parent facing possible litigation wants to be the one who goes into court with a mental health diagnosis.