SPECIALIZED SERVICES IN DIVORCE/CHILD CUSTODY

Child Custody Mediation   Deborah Barnes and Corey Lucero-Perkins have specialized training and experience and will provide the needed guidance and expertise to navigate through the process of divorce. Deborah Barnes is an appointed member of the Private Mediators Panel for Sacramento County Family Courts.  Deborah provides both Private Confidential Mediation and Non-Confidential Mediation.  Private Mediation is a confidential process in which the parties come to agreements that they find fair and practical.  In this process, there are no reports submitted to the court.    Non-Confidential Mediation is the process in which the Mediator assists the Clients in identifying issues of controversy existing between them and then assists the Clients in finding a mutually acceptable solution to the controversy.  This mediation process is said to be “non-confidential” because the Mediator has the authority, and in most cases, the obligation, to report parental agreements and disputes to the Court, as well as to make recommendations to the Court regarding the best interests of the child(ren) if the mediation does not result in an agreement between the Clients.  Mediation is a collaborative effort in which there is no “win-lose” position.

CO-PARENTING THERAPY: One of the biggest challenges that divorced parents face is learning how to parent separately yet collaboratively with each other.  Co-Parenting therapy helps parents to navigate through the various emotions and issues in order to establish guidelines for the child(ren) that are consistent in both homes.  Cooperation between the parents increases the child(ren)’s ability to build resiliency and to adjust to the parental divorce.  Our therapists have special training and expertise in providing both court ordered and mutually agreed upon co-parenting therapy.