Parent Eductation & Family Stabilization

This Parent Education & Family Stabilization Course is designed to cover all aspects of parenting, including dynamics and problems in the  relationships of the parents in a brief, but comprehensive 12 hour / 2 day format, divided into two sessions. This format includes but is not limited to issues of discipline, development, blended families, abuse, including domestic violence, communication, problem-solving and legal concepts. This course is based on an empowering model, and is intended to be pervasive in its simple and experiential coverage of the concepts needed to function well as parents.  
     
It is the intention of this program to provide the participants with access and exposure to the tools they need to raise independent and well disciplined children. The scope of this course is meant to provoke questions, interactions and understanding not ordinarily achieved within the scope of most parent education programs.  
     
In this spirit, Michael Holler Counseling Services has included and expanded upon the minimum standards required by Chapter 61 of the Florida statutes. This course is not intended merely to "check off squares." Rather, this unique interactive experience provides the participants the ability to walk away from this course with the tools and knowledge necessary to function as positive role models for their children, to prevent incidents of abuse and or
domestic violence, to improve the relations between alienated parents and to teach parents to intervene with the proverbial “ounce of prevention,” in order to minimize and/or eliminate negative experiences between parent and child. This class meets and/or exceeds the minimum standards set forth in Chapter 61 of the Florida Statutes and is approved by the Monroe County Court.  
     
The presenter, Michael Holler, has a Master of Arts Degree in Professional Psychology, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Florida, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of Missouri and holds a Board Certification as a National Certified Counselor.  Michael Holler has extensive experience in Inpatient Psychiatric settings, Community Mental Health and as a Private Practitioner, specializing in working with issues related to families, children, adolescents and relationships. Mr. Holler has an engaging entertaining style that enables the participants to more fully enjoy the class. The most frequent comment made by parents upon completion of this course is, "Why can’t this course be longer?" Michael Holler Counseling Services believes that this will be evident as you leave the class: That this course is both a valuable and necessary service to the parents in this community.  
     
The cost of the course is $120.00 
($100.00 per person and $20.00 for the book).

To inquire about or register for the next course call 305-393-1230.

Mediation

Mediation is an excellent alternative to litigation in the divorce process.
 
Stated in simple terms, litigation is the process of going to court, presenting one's case to the judge, and hoping for the best. However, in the process of litigation neither party has much control or say as to what the decisions are and how they're made. The entire case is placed in the hands of the court. In short, one takes a chance and then has to live with the results.

On the other hand, mediation is a process entirely of self-determination.  In mediation the parties sit down at the table with an impartial, neutral mediator who does not make decisions or determine the outcome of the case. The parties may or may not have their attorneys present -- whichever is their preference.  (All decisions and outcomes are determined by the parties and not by the mediator.) This process allows the parties to essentially rewrite their own ticket and develop an agreement that fits their individual case, rather than risking the possibility of a poor fit as a result of a “one-size-fits-all” result, which may not actually fit anyone in the case very well. In the process of divorce, this may be the last time the parties have any chance to determine for themselves their own course of action. Once it is submitted to the court, they may even find themselves unable to determine the path for the rest of their lives and/or their children's lives.   
     
As defined by statute:
Mediation is a supervised settlement conference presided over by the neutral Mediator who suggests alternatives, analyzes issues, questions perceptions, uses logic, conducts private meetings of attorneys with their client, stimulates negotiation between the opposing sides and keeps order. The Mediator does not hear any testimony, review any evidence or make a decision. The only result of the Mediation conference is the agreement or non-agreement of the parties. This is NOT arbitration.

Parenting Coordination

Parenting coordination is a service provided by a Mental Health Professional, with 20 hours of formal standardized training in Parenting Coordination, 40 hours of training in Family Mediation and documented experience, knowledge and training in parenting, parent education, and child development. This service is applicable and appropriate for divorcing and post-divorce parents who meet the criteria for high conflict in the eyes of the court. High conflict is a term that would be applicable in circumstances where the parents have a chronic and long-term difficult time in resolving disagreements and conflicts during the divorce process and/or post divorce. This term is applicable to parents whose conflicts have not been mostly resolved one to three years after the divorce is final. It would also be applicable for parents whose conflict would be considered by the court as significantly more intense or more long-lived than in most cases.   
     
Not to be confused with family therapy, Parenting Coordination is a process designed to focus on resolving problems between the parents, and to assist them in developing a Parenting Plan with the driving force being the best interests of the child or children involved. This is the process parents may turn to when all other efforts to resolve how conflicts have failed./font>   
     
     
As described in the proposed legislation:   
(From the August 15th, 2003 draft of Parenting Coordination standards a work in progress prepared for consideration at the FLAFCC Parenting Coordination Training and Legislative Summit.) “Parenting Coordination” is a process whereby an impartial third person called a Parenting Coordinator helps the parties to implement their parenting plan by facilitating the resolution of disputes between parents and/or legal guardians providing education, making recommendations to the parties, and, with the prior approval the parties and the court, making decisions within the scope of the court order appointment.   
     
A "Shared Parenting Plan" is either a temporary or final order established by the Court setting up the residence, parental responsibility, visitation and other parental responsibility issues in a dissolution of marriage proceeding or any other civil action involving custody or parenting of children.   
     
The Court may appoint a Parenting Coordinator after due notice and on its own motion or motions of a party if, from the pleadings and orders of record, or evidence, it finds:  

(1) the parties failed to adequately implement their shared parenting plan in relation to the child or children who are the subjects of the proceedings,
(2) mediation has not been successful or has been determined by the judge to be inappropriate, and
(3) the appointment of a Parenting Coordinator is in the best interests of the child or children involved in the proceedings. Notwithstanding the above, the Court may appoint a Parenting Coordinator by agreement of the parties. 
  
    
The primary duty of the Parenting Coordinator is to implement the shared parenting plan by facilitating the resolution of disputes between parents or legal guardians, providing education, making recommendations, and with the approval of the parties and the court, making decisions within the scope of the court order appointment in the dissolution of marriage proceeding or any other civil action involving custody or parenting of children the process shall not be used to change the shared parenting plan by changing the primary residence apparent or substantially altering the contact by the other parent, except by consent of the party that with court approval. Each party involved in the parenting coordination process has the right to consult an attorney in any stage of the process.