Co-Parenting & Parenting Plan Mediation — Building a Framework for Your Family’s Future

Divorce or separation changes the relationship between partners, but it doesn’t end the relationship between parents. Co-parenting mediation helps you create a clear, comprehensive parenting plan that reduces conflict, protects your children, and gives both parents a roadmap for raising their kids cooperatively — even when cooperation feels impossible.

At Compass Mediation Group, lead mediator Alisa Kharis works with parents to develop parenting agreements that are detailed, realistic, and built to last. With a Juris Doctorate from Seattle University School of Law, 16 years of courtroom experience as a former practicing attorney who handled family law cases in Washington state courts, and a Master Mediator certification from the International Mediation Association (IMA) — plus over 25 years of mediation experience and education — Alisa helps parents move past the emotions of divorce and focus on the practical decisions their children need them to make.

All sessions are virtual, so you can participate from anywhere in the country.

What Is Co-Parenting Mediation?

Co-parenting mediation is a facilitated negotiation process where separated or divorced parents work with a neutral mediator to resolve parenting disputes and create or revise a parenting plan.

Unlike court proceedings — where a judge imposes a schedule based on limited information — mediation gives you the ability to design an arrangement that reflects your family’s unique needs, your children’s personalities, and each parent’s real-world schedule.

Co-parenting mediation is used for:

• Creating an initial parenting plan during divorce or separation
• Modifying an existing plan when circumstances change
• Resolving ongoing co-parenting conflicts before they escalate to court
• Addressing specific issues like holiday scheduling, relocation, or decision-making disagreements

Co-Parenting After Divorce — When It Feels Impossible

Let’s be honest: co-parenting with someone you’ve chosen to separate from is hard. Co-parenting with someone who was controlling, dismissive, or uncooperative during the marriage can feel nearly impossible.

Mediation helps in these situations because it provides structure. You’re not trying to “get along” — you’re building a system. A detailed parenting plan with clear rules means you don’t need to have a good relationship with your co-parent. You need a good plan.

Co-Parenting with a Difficult Ex

If your co-parent is high-conflict, manipulative, or simply uncooperative, mediation offers several advantages over court:

• A neutral third party controls the conversation. Alisa ensures both parents are heard and that the conversation stays productive. With 16 years of courtroom experience handling contentious cases — including criminal law, family law, and civil litigation across multiple Washington state counties — she has managed far more difficult dynamics than most mediators have encountered. There’s no room for bullying or steamrolling.
• Communication is structured. Your parenting plan can include specific communication protocols — like requiring all non-emergency communication to go through a co-parenting app — that minimize direct conflict.
• Boundaries are built into the plan. A comprehensive parenting plan leaves fewer gray areas for a difficult co-parent to exploit.
• You maintain control. In court, a judge decides. In mediation, you have a voice in every decision.

Why Virtual Co-Parenting Mediation Works

All Compass Mediation Group sessions are conducted virtually, and for co-parenting mediation, this format offers unique benefits:

• No shared waiting room. You don’t have to sit next to your ex in a lobby. You log in from your own space, on your own terms.
• Reduced emotional intensity. The physical distance of a virtual session can help both parents stay calmer and more focused.
• Flexible scheduling. Virtual sessions are easier to fit around work and childcare obligations — no commute, no taking time off.
• Nationwide access. Whether you and your co-parent live in the same city or across the country, you can both participate from anywhere.
• Easy document sharing. Proposed schedules, calendars, and financial information can be shared on-screen in real time.
• Private breakout rooms. When the mediator needs to speak with each parent individually — or when either parent needs a moment to regroup — virtual breakout rooms allow private, one-on-one conversations without leaving the session.