Parenting Coordination Institute

Parenting Coordination Institute Ongoing co-parenting conflict is exhausting and children feel it. Any information provided on this page is general in nature.

I help separated parents reduce tension, reset communication and make child-focused decisions through lawyer-free mediation and co-parenting coaching. For legal advice on your specific situation, you must seek advice from a family lawyer. We believe that divorce does not have to be hard, messy or expensive. I am an award-winning lawyer, mediator and conflict coach and I work with separating couple

s helping them take the sting out of divorce. Divorce is not just a legal issue but has financial and emotional implications as well. My aim is to shift the focus of divorce from legal wrangling to a healing process where a settlement and resolution is reached in an amicable way. Your marriage did not begin with lawyers and legal papers so there is no reason for it to end that way. Divorce is not all about the paperwork. It’s about a major life transition and I want to make a difference in the way divorce is done.

30/05/2026

Delighted to welcome Tony as a co- trainer at PCI. I met Tony Pelusi, JD, CPCC, Parenting Coordinator when I was on my Churchill Fellowship as few years ago and I have learned so much from him over the years.

He supports parents in resolving child-related disagreements in the best interests of their children. He is a certified professional co-active coach, trained mediator, and court-approved Parenting Coordinator. Whether serving as a PC, coparenting coach, or non-testifying consultant, he skillfully engages one or both parents in conversations that shift focus from “this is the problem between us” to the more vital question, “what does this coparenting relationship need to better serve our children?”

Tony balances his expertise and training with self-effacing humor and a belief that all conflict can be resolved when parties are honest, open, and willing. He helps parents identify and eliminate obstacles and replace them with systems and processes that support successful coparenting.

Tony is fearless in asking the vital questions that help clients broaden their perspective and consider alternate possibilities. He encourages his clients to approach obstacles with the confidence that, once seen clearly and objectively, a plan can be created to overcome them.

Drawing on his years of experience as a son, husband, parent, and trial lawyer, along with extensive professional training, Tony introduces coparents to the wisdom and benefits of them placing their children’s well-being ahead of personal disagreements.

Until 2024 he taught the PC course and other High Conflict Coparenting courses at William James College - Centre of Excellence for Children, Families and the Law.

He continues to serve on teaching panels with AFCC, its MA Chapter, Mass Association of Guardians ad Litems, Mass Continuing Legal Education and numerous local and state bar associations.

30/05/2026

A recap of what I have been doing over the last 6 weeks.

Truly grateful to meet this legend and hear about his work in trauma informed courts in Florida. Judge Jack Helinger was...
13/05/2026

Truly grateful to meet this legend and hear about his work in trauma informed courts in Florida. Judge Jack Helinger was given the 2024 Jurist of the Year award by the Florida chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He was the obvious choice for the award for many reasons. Most importantly, Judge Helinger is a champion of children, recognizing the need to minimize trauma in the lives of litigants and to assist families in breaking the cycle of generational dysfunction.

He has presided over a family law division till he retired in early 2026 and was instrumental in creating educational seminars on “ACEs” (Adverse Childhood Experiences) for lawyers and other family law professionals to help them gain awareness of the emotional trauma that
children may experience due to the actions of their parents during a divorce.

Among the topics touched on are adverse childhood experiences, the impact of toxic stress, resiliency, and self-care.

It is so rare to meet someone who is the epitome of kindness. And Iain Smith embodies kindness not just in law but in li...
01/05/2026

It is so rare to meet someone who is the epitome of kindness. And Iain Smith embodies kindness not just in law but in life too.

He is a criminal defence lawyer and one of the leading proponents of the shift to trauma informed law through his “smart justice” approach focusing on rehabilitation and the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) rather than punishment alone. Through his Trauma Aware Law initiative he educates legal professionals on how trauma shapes behaviour and decision-making, while also influencing policy with the Scottish Sentencing Council to ensure childhood trauma is considered in sentencing.

Recognised as Scottish Lawyer of the Year (2020), he continues to champion “kindness in court,” reminding us that real justice doesn’t just respond to behaviour it understands its roots.

Feeling very privileged to have the opportunity to attend the annual lecture at the Judicial Institute of Scotland, Parl...
30/04/2026

Feeling very privileged to have the opportunity to attend the annual lecture at the Judicial Institute of Scotland, Parliament House which was delivered by Sir Geoffrey Voss, Master of the Rolls and Head of Civil Justice in England and Wales. He talked about the future of AI and its impact on the legal system and how it is essential for delivering timely, cost-effective justice in the machine age.

As part of my Creswick fellowship research into trauma informed practice over the past week my work has taken me beyond theory and into meaningful conversations with key partners across multiple systems in Scotland. I’ve had the opportunity to connect with professionals from the justice and legal sectors, NHS, Police Scotland, social work, the Scottish government as well as local government to better understand how trauma-informed approaches are being embedded into their frameworks and day-to-day work.

Each conversation brought a unique perspective about a shared commitment recognising the impact of trauma and responding in ways that are compassionate, informed and responsive.

What stands out is how these frameworks are not just policies on paper. They are actively shaping practice, influencing decision-making and improving how services support individuals and communities around Scotland. Learning directly from those implementing this work has deepened my understanding of both the challenges and the real progress being made.

This journey continues to reinforce the importance of collaboration across sectors. Trauma-informed practice is not the responsibility of one service alone . It requires collective effort, shared learning, and ongoing dialogue.

The wonders of connecting on Linked In. 😉 Thanks for making the time to catch up with me in London Annmarie  . I have be...
23/04/2026

The wonders of connecting on Linked In. 😉 Thanks for making the time to catch up with me in London Annmarie . I have been fascinated by your work for many years. We talked all things trauma informed practice for lawyers in all areas of practice and had some good laughs too.

# localgovernment

I’m excited to be offering trauma-informed, evidence-based Parenting Coordination training for professionals working wit...
22/04/2026

I’m excited to be offering trauma-informed, evidence-based Parenting Coordination training for professionals working with high-conflict families. The 6 week training commences on the 20th of July.

My co-presenter in the course will be Tony Pelusi who is an experienced PC and trainer from the US. Also joining us is a guest presenter who is an experienced psychotherapist and trauma informed practitioner from Scotland.

This training draws on:
- international best practice
- my Churchill Fellowship research into Parenting Coordination
- emerging trauma-informed practice
- child-centred, ethically grounded approaches to complex family dynamics.

For practitioners who want more than theory this 40 hour training is designed to build real capability.

Message me for details. Email - [email protected]
https://www.parentingcoordinationinstitute.com.au/training

traumainformedpractice

When the conflict becomes self-sustaining the same arguments keep resurfacing, implementation of the court orders breaks...
22/03/2026

When the conflict becomes self-sustaining the same arguments keep resurfacing, implementation of the court orders breaks down and even small decisions can trigger disproportionate reactions.

In that context, progress rarely comes from telling parents to try harder. It comes from creating a framework that reduces ambiguity, contains escalation and supports more consistent follow-through.

That is where a structured process can make a real difference, not by removing disagreement altogether but by helping families manage it in a way that is safer, more child-focused and less damaging over time.

Because in entrenched matters change usually begins with containment, consistency and support around the issues that keep pulling the family back into conflict.

Children should not have to carry the weight of ongoing parental conflict. Too often, the legal matter is over. The orde...
18/03/2026

Children should not have to carry the weight of ongoing parental conflict. Too often, the legal matter is over. The orders are in place. But the conflict continues.

And when it does, children absorb the tension, instability, divided loyalties and emotional fallout.
That matters deeply because the research on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) is clear - chronic conflict, fear, coercion and household dysfunction can shape a child’s health, wellbeing, relationships and life outcomes for years to come.

That is why I care so deeply about Parenting Coordination. It is more than dispute resolution. It is a practical, structured, child-focused way to interrupt entrenched patterns before more harm is done. When we address dysfunction early, we are not just helping parents communicate better. We are reducing harm, protecting children, and helping prevent deeper personal, social and systemic costs later.

That is why Parenting Coordination matters. If this work matters to you too, follow along as I share more about Parenting Coordination in practice
Because when we reduce conflict at its source, we are not just managing today’s crisis — we are protecting the future of our children.

Mediation is very valuable and for some parents  mediation is sufficient. For others when the conflict continues it ofte...
16/03/2026

Mediation is very valuable and for some parents mediation is sufficient. For others when the conflict continues it often leaves them hamstrung and unable to focus on the needs of the children. This is where Parenting Coordination can help.

Mediation and Parenting Coordination both support separated parents but they serve different purposes. Parenting Coordination is a process designed for parents who remain in repeated conflict.

Save this post and share it with a family law professional or a friend who may need a clearer understanding of the process.

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Melbourne, VIC

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