Jennifer Barkin

Bio

Jennifer Barkin is a Registered Social Worker, MSW, RSW (OCSWSSW), an Accredited Family Mediator (OAFM and FDRIO), Certified Divorce Coach (CDC), Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) and a Parenting Coordinator.

She has expertise in assisting families in navigating all aspects of their separation and divorce. She provides specialized services such as: Parenting Coordination, Mediation, Divorce Coaching, Divorce and Separation Counselling, Divorce Finances, and Voice of The Child Reports. She has completed numerous certifications and accreditations in dispute resolution and therapeutic services, including a certificate in Conflict Resolution from Harvard Law School.

She helps families successfully navigate one of the hardest times of their lives with empathy, and with the goal of assisting parents in putting their children’s needs first.

She offers therapeutic support in the following areas:

Co-parenting Counseling

She practices from a child’s focused lens to help parents transition from their intimate partner relationship into parenting partnership that focuses on their children’s needs and best interests. Sessions can take place either together or by “shuttle” where clients are not required to attend sessions face to face. The goal is to assist parents to incorporate new communication skills and establish appropriate boundaries with both empathy and sensitivity.

Separation and Divorce Counselling

Separation and Divorce both change the landscape of what people envisioned for the roadmap of their lives. Relationship breakdowns bring significant changes to parenting, finances, and a plethora of other factors. She assists clients wherever they are in the process by incorporating multi-systemic therapy as a one size fits all approach does not work for everyone as people are unique based on their cultural values, experiences, and trauma.

Couples Counseling

She incorporates numerous therapy modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Trauma therapy when working with couples. She guides couples towards healing and building a stronger connection through conflict resolution, better communication, stress management, and trust building.

Coaching Services

Divorce Coaching

Divorce coaching differs from traditional therapy as it is future focused. Jennifer work with individuals wherever they are at in the separation and divorce process by using a strengths-based approach that allows them to rediscover their values and their future goals. She helps prepare clients to choose the appropriate lawyers and mediators, prepares them for their legal meetings, mediations, and helps keep their family law costs down. She also acts as a sounding board through active listening and guides clients to explore various paths so that they can make the best choices for themselves and their children’s futures.

Mediation Services

As an accredited family mediator, she mediates parenting plans using a child centered approach. For financial mediations, she incorporates her CDFA training to assist couples with equalization, spousal support, and child support. Mediation falls under the ADR umbrella ( Alternative Dispute Resolution). Mediation allows people to craft their own agreements and s a result; it helps to preserve positive family dynamics. Moreover, the research proves that mediated agreements are better adhered to then litigated orders as families know what is best for their children. Best of all, mediation is amicable, fast, and a less expensive route to litigation.

Voice of The Child Reports:

“Children have a voice – not a choice”. When it comes to divorcing and divorced parents, people often are on different pages concerning what is best for their children. As a trained Voice of the Child practitioner, Jennifer can learn what the children’s needs, wants, and wishes are, and bring them back to the parents in a report that is written in their children’s words. These reports ultimately can aid families in getting to fast and amicable resolutions. As parents should never bring their children into conflict, a Voice of the Child report can deliver the children’s voice in a truthful and nonconflictual manner.