Reducing the impact of separation on everyone Course A

Whether you are newly separated or have been separated and co-parenting for a while, having a straightforward co-parenting relationship with your ex-partner can be fraught with difficulties. This is where we can help.

This new, evidence informed, 6-week online course is designed to give you practical tips on dealing with the challenges, putting the well-being of your children at the centre.

DATES: 8, 15,22 October and 5, 12, 19 November 6:30 PM-8:30 PM

PLEASE NOTE: This course is only for families where at least 1 parent lives in Somerset, UK.

“I have developed this course because I know how tough it can be for parents and children processing a separation so I’m excited about sharing a new approach which has the potential to change the dynamic between separated parents as they learn how they could collaboratively coparent their children.” Ruth James, Reducing Parental Conflict Coordinator, Somerset Council.

Course Overview:

• Purpose: Help separated/divorced parents reduce the impact of the separation on themselves and their children.
• Format: Online, 6-week course – each session is 2 hours and you will be expected to come along to all 6 sessions if you can.
• Who can attend: Any separated parent where at least 1 parent lives in Somerset, UK
• Cost: Free

Course Content - more informations about each week is below:

1. Week 1: Managing family emotions in high-conflict situations.
2. Week 2: Reducing conflict as you transition to single parenting.
3. Week 3: Building resilience in yourself and your children.
4. Week 4: Developing a calm, collaborative co-parenting relationship.
5. Week 5: Helping your child cope with the separation.
6. Week 6: Managing ongoing challenges and minimizing the impact of separation.

Facilitator:

• Ruth James: Experienced in working with separated parents.

Benefits:

• Learn how you can reduce the the emotional and practical impact of separation/divorce on you and your children.
• Practical tips and ongoing support from other parents.
• The focus of the course is on your children’s well-being.

What parents have said about previous courses Ruth has run:

“Safe space to talk, no judgements.” “Worth going to. Feels suppportive.” “I went away with practical ideas to improve my coparenting relationship”

Details:

• Eligibility: Separated parents where at least 1 lives in Somerset, UK. 2 courses run the same week so each parent can go along to a different course. Here is the link to Course B which starts at 10 am on Thurs 9 October: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1396610312039?aff=oddtdtcreator
• This course is not suitable if there has been/is domestic abuse in the relationship - if there is domestic abuse please go to Somerset Domestic Abuse for more support.

Once you have booked your place, Ruth will share more information about the course and will be in touch to arrange a quick chat to make sure the course is suitable for you.

Please get in touch if you have any questions or need more information.

Ruth James, ruth.james@somerset.gov.uk

Please make sure that you answer all the questions when you apply for the course as this will result in faster processing and will allow us to run more courses.

For more information about relationship support for parents please go to: https://www.cypsomersethealth.org/managing_relationship_conflict

Other courses for separated parents: www.cypsomersethealth.org/?page=events__parenting_cafes_and_parenting_when_separated_courses

Here is more information about what will be covered each week:

Course Content:

Week 1: Managing family emotions in high-conflict situations.

Managing the change from one family to 2 new families.

Understanding the impact conflict can have on our children.

Tools to manage our own and our children’s emotions with a focus on looking after ourselves.

Week 2: Reducing conflict as you transition to single parenting.

Is it really like that? How we need challenge our perception of stuff that happens in our coparenting relationship.

How our thinking impacts the choices we make and what we can do about it to reduce our stress and conflict.

How to develop a business-like relationship with our ex-partner.

Week 3: Building resilience in yourself and your children.

Learning how we can choose to respond and not react when something happens with our ex-partner.

Understanding how our mindset affects how we react when things go wrong in our coparenting relationship and what we can do about it.

Exploring the influence we have on our children and how we can use this to build their resilience as we move to becoming a new family.

Week 4: Developing a calm, collaborative coparenting relationship.

What are your priorities? Managing different coparenting priorities whilst supporting your children.

Challenging your boundaries in your coparenting relationship and working out where they need to be.

Top tips on how to manage “consistently boring” handovers and transitions for you and your children.

Week 5: Helping your child cope with the separation.

Understanding what your children need and don’t need as you separate.

Managing behaviour and what to do if you have a different parenting style from your ex-partner.

Building a stronger relationship with your child that will last.

Week 6: Managing ongoing challenges and minimizing the impact of separation.

How to focus on moving forward and making the changes you want to make.

How to keep going when things are tough.

Self-care in the short, medium and long term for you and your children.