Coparenting
Co-parenting is hard, but it does not have to be painful. Whether a couple is married or not, when they decide to have a child, they are unlikely to be thinking about being co-parents. In fact, co-parenting is usually not on anyone’s radar until challenges in the relationship start to emerge. At that point, it is easy for the emotions about the lost relationship and disagreements with the other parent to distract from the child’s needs.
Dr. Janella designed ICC to help co-parents refocus their time and attention on their children and to regulate their emotions. Her method reduces conflict in the co-parenting relationship, even if only one co-parent completes the course. A healthy outlook on your co-parenting relationship is within your reach.
Our History
Dr. Janella became well-versed in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) while providing mental health services for people with severe depression and anxiety. At that time, she offered support for separated and divorced parents in the Family Court System for over 15 years. It did not take long for her to realize that the co-parents she had been working with would benefit from the same CBT and DBT tools helping her clinical clients.
Dr. Janella spent two years developing the ICC curriculum at night after work and on weekends. She knew an in-person class would be the most effective way to connect with participants, but the pandemic had other plans. Ultimately, Dr. Janella launched ICC as a live, online class. This unexpected shift worked in everyone’s favor by reducing the need for childcare while still allowing co-parents to get real-time support learning the skills and connecting with the instructor and other co-parents.
Our Approach
We know co-parenting can create strong emotions. One of our primary goals is to provide each ICC participant with the tools they need to regulate their emotions, effectively communicate with their co-parent, and focus on their parenting time with their children.
One of the main reasons we work with co-parents separately is to allow everyone to learn and practice the skills presented in ICC without being distracted by the other co-parent. We have also known that when co-parents connect with other co-parents, they feel supported and less isolated by their co-parenting experience.
FAQ’s
About ICC
What is "Co-parenting"?
Co-parenting involves raising children with the other parent who resides in a separate household. The other parent might be your ex-spouse, former partner, or someone you chose to raise children with while living apart.
What if my Co-parent wont take the course?
ICC works with co-parents separately. You and your co-parenting relationship will benefit from completing ICC even if your co-parent does not take the class.
What is the difference between Section A, B, & C?
Scheduling is the only difference between the sections. We present the same information in all sections. Co-parents are not allowed to enroll in the same class, so we schedule three sections per month, allowing co-parents to take the course simultaneously without being in the same section.
Why can't I sign up for the same section my Co-parent is enrolled in?
ICC gives co-parents the skills to focus on their thoughts, feelings, and actions. We also help co-parents learn how to regulate their emotions. We have learned that this goal is much easier to achieve when a participant’s co-parent is not in the same section, potentially triggering them during the class.
If I require assistance after the course, what options are available?
After you complete the course, you can contact us at any time, and we will connect you to a co-parenting coach or co-parenting therapist based on your specific needs.
Can I pause, skip, or come back to courses at a later date?
If you are unable to finish the ICC section you originally registered for, you may switch to a different section as long as your co-parent has not already enrolled in the class you wish to join.
What is a Court Recognized Certificate of Completion?
A Court Recognized Certificate means that the Court accepts ICC as a co-parenting class Parties can take to meet the requirements when mandated to complete co-parenting education.
How does the cost of ICC compare to hiring a lawyer or mediator?
ICC costs $150 per parent for eight hours of co-parenting education. That cost is far less than hiring an attorney or mediator at $200 per hour and up.
What if I am not tech-savvy, can I take the courses offline?
We designed ICC to be an in-person class. We do not offer this class offline. However, we have tech-savvy staff that can assist you.
I don't have childcare; can I still participate while my kids are around?
Yes, you can participate while your children are home. However, we ask that you try to have your child occupied during the class so you can focus on the presented material.
Do I have to have my camera on during class?
Yes! ICC was designed to be an interactive in-person co-parenting class. When we moved to a live virtual class, we wanted to keep ICC as close to the original format as possible. We have also learned that having your camera on helps you engage in the material and connect with other participants.
About ICC Courses
Requirements
Each ICC session lasts for two hours and takes place once a week for four weeks. It is important to note that the dates of the sessions may not be consecutive. Once the payment for the course has been received, links to the course will be sent to you. Please be advised that co-parents are not permitted to register for the same session. If both co-parents enroll in the same session, the parent who registered first will have the option to remain in that session, and the other parent will be required to sign up for a different one. ICC is an 8-hour course that relies on the previous week's information to build a better understanding of the tools presented during the course. It is mandatory for participants to keep their cameras on during the class. To ensure that both co-parents receive all the information presented, it is essential to attend the full two hours for all four sessions.
Late Policy
If a participant arrives more than 10 minutes late for a session, it will be considered a missed session, and the late participant will be asked to leave and make up that session. Your ICC fee includes one makeup class. A fee will be charged for each makeup class if two or more classes are missed.
Fees
All ICC fees must be paid in full at the time of registration. ICC has a 72-Hour (3 calendar days) cancellation policy. If a participant cancels their ICC enrollment within 72 hours of the first day of the session, they will receive a full refund. If a participant cancels after 72 hours, does not show up for the session for which they are enrolled, or fails to attend several classes without arranging makeup classes, that participant will not receive a refund. However, if the participant requests, their enrollment fee may be transferred to the future session of their choice, given that there is availability in the requested session and their co-parent is not already enrolled in that particular session. All requests for makeup classes and transfers of fees must be emailed to info@iccparenting.com.
Certificates of Completion
Certificates of Completion are an accurate statement to co-parents, the Court and other third parties that the certificate holder completed 8 hours of co-parenting instruction. These certificates are only provided to ICC participants who completed all 8 hours of the course, including attending all four two-hour sessions or a combination of the regular and required makeup sessions.
Questions or Concerns
Any questions or concerns about ICC must be emailed to us. Doing so will help ensure that ICC facilitators can focus on course material presented each week and that particular questions and concerns do not take away from classroom time.
