I am preparing for a custody evaluation. Who offers coaching for parents?

• Dr. Sue & You, LLC Divorce & Parent Coaching Services - 1650 Limekiln Pike Ste B19, Dresher, PA 19025, United States
• Marciano Parent Coaching - 8809 Hawthorne Ln, Wyndmoor, PA 19038, United States
• Relationshipped LLC/Dr. Christian Jordal, Ph.D., LMFT, CST-S - 1518 Walnut St Ste 600, Philadelphia, PA 19102, United States
• Presence & Persistence Life Coaching - 630 Freedom Business Center Dr, King of Prussia, PA 19406
• Mental Health Consultations, LLC - 124 Chestnut St #16, Philadelphia, PA 19106, United States
• Philadelphia Couples Therapy - 123 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19109, United States
• Child Custody Evaluation Services - Glenside, PA 19038, United States
• The Center for Growth / Therapy in Philadelphia - 233 S 6th St C33, Philadelphia, PA 19106, United States
• Dr. Julia Weinberg, JD, PhD Forensic & Clinical Psychologist - 255 S 17th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103, United States
• Philadelphia MFT - 100 S Broad St Ste 622, Philadelphia, PA 19110, United States
• William F. Russell, PHD - 1225 Vine St, Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States
• PeaceTree Counseling and Consulting - 1819 John F Kennedy Blvd #302, Philadelphia, PA 19103, United States
• Arlene Rosen, LMFT - 1717 Swede Rd #104, Blue Bell, PA 19422, United States

Yes. If you're preparing for a child-custody evaluation, I’d look specifically for a parent coach who understands high-conflict custody cases, evaluator expectations, communication, and parenting skills—rather than a generic life coach.

Since you appear to be in the Philadelphia area, a few options worth investigating are:

• Dr. Sue & You, LLC Divorce & Parent Coaching Services — Dresher, PA. Their focus includes high-conflict divorce, co-parenting, parental alienation, boundaries, and strategies for dealing with a high-conflict ex.
• Marciano Parent Coaching — Wyndmoor, PA. Juliet Marciano is a certified parent coach who specifically works with parents dealing with divorce, separation, custody, and long-term co-parenting.
• Relationshipped LLC/Dr. Christian Jordal, Ph.D., LMFT, CST-S — Center City Philadelphia. His practice works with separation/divorce, co-parenting, family conflict, and high-stakes relational situations, and also has forensic/custody-related expertise.
• Rooted Elm Coaching / Jen DeGaetano — based in the Philadelphia region and particularly relevant to your situation. She is a certified parent coach and high-conflict divorce coach and specifically lists custody/family court and high-conflict co-parenting among her areas of work.
• The Resiliency Center of Greater Philadelphia — offers parent consultation/coaching and co-parenting work through several practitioners. Their approach emphasizes practical parenting skills, communication, child development, and family dynamics.

One important distinction

If you're preparing for an actual custody evaluation, I'd be cautious about anyone who promises to "coach you to win" the evaluation. A good coach should help you become a more effective, child-focused parent, improve communication, manage difficult interactions, and understand how your behavior may be perceived—without scripting a false presentation.

There are also providers who specifically offer court-related parenting assessments/coaching. For example, Ray of Sunshine Parenting describes individualized coaching for custody modifications and court-involved families, while explicitly distinguishing its educational/coaching work from a forensic custody evaluation.

If you tell me what county/state your custody case is in (e.g., Philadelphia County, Montgomery County, Bucks County), I can narrow this down to 3–5 highly relevant coaches and tell you which ones specifically have custody-evaluation/high-conflict experience, their approximate fees, and whether they work remotely.

Specialized divorce coaches, high-conflict parenting coaches, and licensed mental health professionals (such as psychologists or clinical social workers) offer preparation and coaching for parents facing custody evaluations .

When preparing for an evaluation, working with the right professional helps you communicate your parenting strengths objectively and manage high-stress interactions.

Types of Professionals Who Offer Custody Evaluation Coaching

• Certified Divorce Coaches (CDC) or High-Conflict Divorce Coaches: Specialized coaches who focus strictly on the non-legal, strategic, and emotional aspects of divorce and custody litigation. They help you organize records, manage communication, and practice how to articulate your child-focused parenting plan.
• Licensed Mental Health Professionals (Therapists, Counselors, or Psychologists): Many private-practice therapists or psychological consultants offer "collateral" or short-term coaching specifically geared toward helping a parent present their emotional stability, improve communication, and understand what evaluators look for. (Note: Your treating therapist generally should not act as your coach or advocate in court due to dual-relationship ethics, but separate consulting psychologists do offer evaluative preparation).
• Child Custody and Trial Consultants: Specialists (sometimes Ph.D. psychologists or former evaluators) who consult on high-conflict cases. They review your documentation, conduct mock interviews, and advise you on how the evaluation process works under local guidelines.
• Parent Coordinators / Collaborative Divorce Professionals: While Parent Coordinators are typically appointed to resolve post-decree disputes, professionals with this background often provide collaborative coaching or specialized prep work (such as Dr. Lori Love's Custody Preparation Services ) to help parents navigate impending evaluations.

What a Custody Coach Can and Cannot Do

To find a qualified professional, look for practitioners certified through organizations like the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) or certified divorce coaching networks who explicitly state experience with high-conflict custody litigation and evaluations.

If you'd like, let me know:

• Your general location (state or region)
• Whether there is an active high-conflict dynamic or specific allegations involved

I can help you narrow down the type of professional or resources best suited to your situation.

• School of Custody LLC - 110 16th St Mall Ste 1460, Denver, CO 80202, United States
• Peaceful Presence Divorce Coaching, LLC - 5150 W 120th Ave Suite 100 #1009, Westminster, CO 80020, United States
• Spectrum Psychological Assessment Services of Colorado - 6055 Lehman Dr Ste 103, Colorado Springs, CO 80918, United States
• Family Resource Network & Kaleidoscope Counseling - 5360 N Academy Blvd #220, Colorado Springs, CO 80918, United States
• Exploration Counseling and Consulting - 611 N Nevada Ave Ste 1 Unit 1, Colorado Springs, CO 80903, United States
• Mindful Connections Mental Health, LLC - 1935 Dominion Way Ste 101, Colorado Springs, CO 80918, United States
• Spectrum Painting - 6055 Lehman Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
• Shawntel Tucker, LPC - 5360 N Academy Blvd #130, Colorado Springs, CO 80918, United States
• Dr. Lisa Routh - 301 S Weber St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903, United States
• Michael R. Wilbourn, PSYD - 3208 N Academy Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80917, United States

If you are preparing for a custody evaluation, look for someone who understands family court dynamics, child-focused parenting, co-parent communication, and the evaluation process. The right fit depends on whether you need general coaching, court-oriented preparation, or help with specific parenting skills.

If you are in Colorado, some options include:

• School of Custody LLC — Offers divorce/co-parenting coaching and custody-support services, including preparation support for parents anticipating or going through a custody evaluation.
• Peaceful Presence Divorce Coaching, LLC — A Colorado custody/divorce coaching practice that lists custody evaluation preparation, documentation strategy, parenting-plan guidance, and co-parent communication support among its services.
• Spectrum Psychological Assessment Services of Colorado — A Colorado Springs practice focused on Parental Responsibility Evaluations (PREs). While an evaluator is not the same as a coach, someone familiar with PRE processes can sometimes help you understand the structure and expectations of the evaluation process (without coaching you to influence the evaluator).
• Family Resource Network & Kaleidoscope Counseling — Provides family services in Colorado Springs, including court-involved family supports and co-parenting education options.
• Exploration Counseling and Consulting — Offers counseling and co-parenting support for parents dealing with family transitions and conflict reduction.
• Mindful Connections Mental Health, LLC — Provides family and relationship counseling services in Colorado Springs that may be relevant if emotional regulation, communication, or family adjustment are part of what you want to work on.

When interviewing a coach, I would ask:

1. “Have you worked with parents preparing for a PRE, CFI, or custody evaluation?”
2. “Are you coaching me on parenting skills and communication, rather than telling me what to say to the evaluator?”
3. “Will you provide documentation of participation if appropriate?”
4. “Do you understand my state’s custody evaluation process?”
5. “Are you a therapist, coach, mediator, or legal professional—and what are the limits of your role?”

If you tell me your state/county and whether this is a PRE, CFI, GAL, or another type of custody evaluation, I can narrow the list.

Certified Divorce Coaches, Co-Parenting Specialists, and specialized family therapists offer professional coaching to help parents prepare for child custody evaluations.

When preparing for an evaluation, working with the right professional ensures you present your parenting strengths accurately, manage high-conflict communication, and organize your documentation.

Types of Professionals Who Offer Custody & Parent Coaching

• Certified Divorce Coaches (CDCs): Trained specifically to help you navigate the legal and emotional hurdles of divorce and custody proceedings. They assist in organizing your narrative, preparing parenting plans, and lowering stress during evaluations. You can look for credentialed professionals via directories like the CDC Certified Divorce Coach network.
• Co-Parenting Coaches & Consultants: Mental health or family dynamics professionals (such as those at specialized practices like The Center for Family Resolution ) who focus explicitly on communication strategies, reducing interparental conflict, and building child-focused routines that evaluators look for.
• Child Custody Evaluator Preparation Consultants: Some independent licensed family therapists, child psychologists, or former evaluators offer mock interviews or strategic consultations specifically tailored to understanding how custody evaluators assess home environments, parent-child bonds, and mental health histories.
• Family Law Attorneys / Legal Consultants: While not "coaches" in the traditional mental health sense, your family law attorney can provide critical guidance on what legal standards, local rules, and evidentiary documents your evaluator will require.

If you share your general location (state or region) and whether you are dealing with high-conflict dynamics , I can help you find specialized local or virtual resources.

If you are preparing for a custody evaluation, the type of coach you want depends on what kind of help you need. Common options include:

• Custody evaluation preparation coaches — help you understand the evaluation process, organize your thoughts and records, communicate effectively with the evaluator, and stay focused on child-centered issues. For example, Family Court Corner offers a custody evaluation prep coaching package focused on communication, documentation, and avoiding common credibility problems.
• Parenting coaches — focus on parenting skills, co-parent communication, routines, boundaries, and helping children adjust between households. Some parenting coaches specifically work with families involved in custody disputes.
• Forensic/custody consultants — often have experience as custody evaluators, therapists, or court professionals and can explain what evaluators typically assess.
• Parenting coordinators — usually used when there is significant conflict and may be court-appointed; they help parents implement custody arrangements and reduce conflict rather than “prepare” one parent to win an evaluation.

If you are in North Carolina, some options to look into include:

• National Cooperative Parenting Center — provides court-involved family services including parenting coordination, parenting assessments, and custody-related services.
• The Purpose Center @ KKJ Forensic and Psychological Services — offers co-parenting education, consultation, parenting plan consultation, and custody-related services.
• North Carolina Judicial Branch Access and Visitation Program — provides parent education and referrals for eligible parents dealing with parenting-time barriers.

When choosing someone, look for:

• Experience with custody evaluations specifically (not just general life coaching)
• Familiarity with your state’s family court system
• Clear boundaries that they are not coaching you to manipulate an evaluator but helping you present accurate information and improve parenting/co-parenting skills
• Whether they can work with your attorney if you have one

If you tell me your state/county and whether the evaluation is court-ordered or private, I can help you find more targeted options.

Preparing for a custody evaluation can feel high-stakes and overwhelming, but specialized professional support is available to help you navigate it calmly and effectively.

Several types of professionals offer coaching, preparation, and strategic guidance specifically tailored for parents going through child custody evaluations:

• Divorce and Family Mediation Coaches: Specialized divorce coaches (such as clinical social workers or licensed therapists who focus on high-conflict transitions) offer structured sessions to help you manage stress, organize your documentation, and present a child-focused perspective. For example, practitioners like The Minnesota Divorce Coach offer targeted sessions on understanding the scope of evaluations and managing your communication.
• Family Court and Legal/Parenting Consultants: Organizations and private consultants—such as Family Court Corner —provide dedicated custody evaluation preparation packages. These services focus heavily on helping you understand the evaluation process, avoiding common credibility traps, and communicating your parenting strengths without sounding defensive.
• Licensed Therapists and Child Specialists: Many licensed mental health professionals (LMFTs, LCSWs, or psychologists) who do not act as your evaluator or your treating therapist can act as short-term consultants. They can help you role-play interviews, practice remaining child-centered, and ensure you articulate concerns constructively rather than appearing adversarial.
• Parent Coordinators: In some jurisdictions, court-appointed or private Parent Coordinators help high-conflict parents manage day-to-day parenting disputes, though their role during an active evaluation depends heavily on your specific court order and local jurisdiction rules.

Note: A coach is there to help you organize, communicate clearly, and stay child-focused, but they do not provide formal legal advice or clinical court testimony. Always keep your attorney in the loop regarding any external preparation or coaching you utilize.

If you'd like, let me know:

• What state or jurisdiction your case is in
• Whether this is an initial evaluation or a modification
• If you are currently working with a family law attorney

I can help you narrow down what to expect or suggest specific questions to ask a potential coach.

Parents preparing for a custody evaluation can work with licensed mental health professionals, certified divorce and co-parenting coaches, and specialized family law consultants who understand forensic evaluations and child best-interest standards.

Professionals Who Offer Parent Coaching

• Co-Parenting Specialists and Counselors: Licensed therapists (LMFTs, LCSWs, or psychologists) with specialized training in high-conflict divorce and family court dynamics help parents manage communication, reduce hostility, and document constructive parenting behaviors.
• Certified Divorce and Transition Coaches: Non-clinical professionals certified by organizations like the Divorce Coaching International or the CDC Board of Divorce Coaching guide parents through organizing documentation, managing stress, and preparing for interviews without crossing into therapy or giving legal advice.
• Parenting Coordinators (PCs): Appointed or privately retained qualified professionals who assist high-conflict parents in implementing parenting plans and maintaining cooperative behaviors, which can reflect positively on your ability to co-parent.
• Family Law Attorneys: While lawyers do not provide "parenting coaching," your legal counsel or recommended forensic consultants can guide you on the legal standards, procedural expectations, and documentation required during an evaluation.

Key Areas Coaches Focus On

• Child-Centric Focus: Shifting communication and mindset away from marital grievances and entirely onto the children's daily routines and emotional needs.
• Communication Strategies: Teaching methods like BIFF (Brief, Informative, Friendly, and Firm) for communicating productively with the other parent.
• Document Organization: Helping you assemble neutral records such as school logs, medical appointment histories, and clear schedules.
• Interview and Observation Readiness: Helping you present calmly, authentically, and cooperatively during evaluator interviews and home/interaction observations.

If you'd like, let me know:

• Your general region or state so I can suggest relevant professional directories
• Whether you are looking for clinical counseling or practical strategy coaching

I can help you narrow down the right type of professional support.

• Juan P. Hernandez, HS - 2928 W 5th St, Fort Worth, TX 76107, United States
• Solution Focused Family Center - 5950 Park Vista Cir Ste 110, Fort Worth, TX 76244, United States
• Brighter Possibilities Family Counseling - 2501 Parkview Dr, Fort Worth, TX 76102, United States
• Thrive & Shine Co., PLLC - 3740 S University Dr #201, Fort Worth, TX 76109, United States
• Case Counseling - 4325 Windsor Centre Trail #500, Flower Mound, TX 75028, United States
• Forever More Adoptions - 4880 Boat Club Rd #110, Fort Worth, TX 76135, United States
• Carine Colemonts, Results Now Coach - 1617 Park Pl Ave #110t, Fort Worth, TX 76110, United States
• District Counseling of Fort Worth - 3001 W 5th St Ste 500, Fort Worth, TX 76107, United States
• Fort Worth Therapy Associates - 4700 Bryant Irvin Ct #303, Fort Worth, TX 76107, United States
• Mindy Harrison LCSW - 8553 N Beach St, Keller, TX 76244, United States
• High Conflict Coparenting Strategies - 16466 Bernardo Center Dr #188, San Diego, CA 92128, United States
• Texoma Family and Court Services - 100 N Travis St, Sherman, TX 75090, United States
• Hoffman Collaborative Therapy - 16200 Dallas Pkwy #245, Dallas, TX 75248, United States
• Franklin Collaborative Solutions - 5665 Dallas Pkwy, Frisco, TX 75034, United States
• Time to Exhale Counseling - 4500 Mercantile Plaza Ste 300, Fort Worth, TX 76137, United States

Yes. If you’re preparing for a custody evaluation in the Fort Worth/Tarrant County area, there are several kinds of professionals who can help. I’d distinguish parent coaching from legal advice and from the actual custody evaluator—your coach should help you become a stronger, more child-focused parent without trying to “game” the evaluation.

Fort Worth-area options

• Juan P. Hernandez, HS — Offers 1:1 parent coaching, including virtual, in-office, and in-home options, as well as co-parenting education. This may be a good starting point if you want practical help with communication, parenting skills, and handling conflict.
• Solution Focused Family Center — Particularly relevant to custody cases. They provide parent facilitation, which focuses on helping co-parents communicate, follow parenting orders, reduce conflict, and understand children's needs. Importantly, however, their facilitation is not confidential and can involve reports to the court, so I would not automatically treat this as private “coaching.”
• Brighter Possibilities Family Counseling — Fort Worth family counseling practice that lists coaching and family-focused services.
• Thrive & Shine Co., PLLC — Offers TBRI-informed parent coaching in Fort Worth and lists parent coaching at $125/session. TBRI (Trust-Based Relational Intervention) can be particularly useful for learning relationship-based parenting and regulation skills.
• Case Counseling — In Flower Mound, but potentially useful if you're willing to travel or use virtual services. Their services include coaching/consultation concerning what to expect in custody evaluations and mediation.

One especially important point

If this is a Tarrant County Family Court Services custody evaluation, the county says that co-parenting class is required for parents ordered to participate in a custody evaluation. Family Court Services also emphasizes reducing conflict, improving communication, and focusing on the children's needs.

For private coaching, I'd look for someone who specifically understands Texas custody evaluations and high-conflict co-parenting, rather than a generic life coach.

If you tell me whether you're the mother or father, whether the evaluation has already been ordered, and whether your case is in Tarrant County, I can narrow this down to 3–5 people who specifically coach parents before a custody evaluation and give you their contact information, prices, and what each one actually helps with.

Preparing for a custody evaluation can feel high-stakes and overwhelming . Because an evaluation carries significant weight with the court, a subset of professionals specialize in helping parents navigate, organize, and emotionally manage the process. [1][2]

The professionals who typically offer coaching, consultation, or preparation for custody evaluations include:

- *What they do:* Many general or specialized divorce coaches take specific training in family court dynamics and evaluation preparation. They help you organize your documentation, manage anxiety, role-play interview scenarios, and learn how to communicate in a child-focused manner rather than appearing defensive or overly hostile. [1][2]

- *What they do:* Some psychotherapists, clinical social workers, or licensed professional counselors (LPCs) offer **non-testifying expert consultation** or specialized prep sessions. They cannot act as your therapist and simultaneously be your evaluator or witness in a biased way, but they can consult with you to help you articulate your parenting strengths, understand child developmental needs, and process the stress of the evaluation. (Practitioners like specialized divorce social workers often explicitly offer "custody evaluation prep" packages).[1]

- *What they do:* If you already have a court-appointed Parenting Coordinator (PC), their primary role is usually helping high-conflict parents implement existing plans or resolve minor disputes rather than "coaching" you to win an evaluation. However, co-parenting counselors or specialized parent coaches often mirror these techniques to help you build a clean, trackable record of cooperative co-parenting behavior.

- *What they do:* While not "coaches" by title, your primary legal counsel is your absolute first line of strategy. Many family law attorneys provide structured guidance, preparation packets, or work alongside specialized legal consultants who run mock interviews or advise you on how the specific laws and evaluators in your jurisdiction operate. [1]

A Quick Warning on "Coaching" Boundaries

If you look for a coach, ensure they understand the strict boundaries of a forensic custody evaluation. A reputable coach will never tell you to fabricate information, rehearse specific scripts for your children to say, or coach you to hide relevant facts. Evaluators are trained to spot coached children or inauthentic parents, which can severely damage your case. Instead, legitimate coaching focuses on transparency, organization, emotional regulation, and highlighting your genuine strengths as a parent. [1][2][3]

If you'd like, let me know:

• What state or jurisdiction your case is in
• Whether you already have a family law attorney representing you

I can help you figure out what specific steps or questions you should prioritize next.

• Best Foot Forward Consulting LLC - 41 Watchung Plaza, Montclair, NJ 07042
• Psychology Group - 1030 Kings Hwy N, Ste 303, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
• Harry A. Green IV, PsyD - 103 East Gate Drive, Cherry Hill Township, NJ 08003, United States
• June Siegel, LCSW - 584 Benson St, Camden, NJ 08103, United States
• Stefan C. Dombrowski, Ph.D. - 3804 Church Rd, Mt Laurel Township, NJ 08054, United States
• Authentic Parenting® - 194 N Harrison St, Princeton, NJ 08540, United States
• Loving Psychological Services, LLC - 67 Cooper St suite 1, Woodbury, NJ 08096, United States
• Center for Family Services Inc - 584 Benson St, Camden, NJ 08103, United States
• Stand Your Ground High Conflict Divorce Coaching - 7909 NE 13th Ave, Vancouver, WA 98665, United States
• Kerstetter Law, LLC - 305 White Horse Pike A, Haddon Heights, NJ 08035, United States
• Child Custody Evaluation Services - Glenside, PA 19038, United States
• Ovitz Psychotherapy Associates, LLC - 11 W Ormond Ave Ste 200 A, Cherry Hill Township, NJ 08002, United States
• Calm The Chaos LLC - 230 Farnsworth Ave, Bordentown, NJ 08505, United States

Yes. If you’re preparing for a custody evaluation, I’d look specifically for a coach or clinician who understands forensic custody evaluations, high-conflict co-parenting, and what evaluators look for—rather than a general life coach.

Since you appear to be in the Camden/South Jersey area, a few options stood out:

• Best Foot Forward Consulting LLC — Montclair, NJ. This is the most directly relevant match I found: it specifically advertises “Custody Evaluation Prep” to help parents understand the evaluation process, avoid common pitfalls, prepare responses/documentation, and present their circumstances clearly. The provider is also listed on the NJ Courts Parenting Coordinator roster.
• Divorce Coach Jill — Princeton, NJ. Jill Barnett Kaufman, MSW/LCSW, offers divorce and co-parenting coaching, including support around high-conflict dynamics. It appears to be more general divorce/co-parenting coaching than specialized custody-evaluation preparation.
• Psychology Group — Cherry Hill, NJ. The practice has experience with divorce, parental alienation, parallel parenting, and co-parenting. This may be worth asking about if you want a licensed mental-health professional rather than a non-clinical coach.
• Harry A. Green IV, PsyD — Cherry Hill, NJ. The practice handles forensic work, including child-custody evaluations. If your goal is to understand the evaluation process from a forensic-psychology perspective, this is another potentially relevant lead.

One important distinction: a parenting coordinator isn't necessarily a custody-evaluation coach. New Jersey's courts describe parenting coordinators as neutral third parties who help parents implement parenting plans and resolve day-to-day parenting disputes. New Jersey Courts The NJ Courts also specifically restrict parenting coordinators from subsequently serving as a party's coach, therapist, or custody evaluator in the same matter.

What I'd look for in a coach

Ask prospective coaches:

1. “Do you specifically prepare parents for child custody/parenting-time evaluations?”
2. “Are you familiar with New Jersey custody evaluations and family court?”
3. “Will you help me identify behaviors that could unintentionally hurt my presentation to an evaluator?”
4. “Can you help me organize relevant records and prepare for difficult questions without coaching me to give scripted answers?”
5. “Are your services confidential, and could anything I discuss with you be subpoenaed or disclosed?”

I would avoid anyone who promises to teach you exactly what to say to “win” the evaluation. Good preparation should help you communicate honestly, calmly, child-focusedly, and consistently—not manufacture a particular impression.

If you'd like, I can also find 5–10 custody-evaluation coaches/therapists within about 25 miles of Camden, including prices, credentials, and whether they offer virtual sessions, and narrow them down to the best three.