In my first encounter with potential participants in CoParent Empowerment Groups I am often asked why it is important to learn co-parenting skills in a group setting. After reading the evaluation sheets from the groups that ended most recently, I decided to share with the readers what our graduates have to say about the group experience.

As group facilitator, I give the participants many opportunities to role-play their anticipated difficult situations with each other. There is usually lots of laughter as people play-act what might be a dreaded encounter. Unlike real life, they have chances to try things over and over again and get constructive feedback from myself and other group members in a safe and friendly atmosphere.

I believe that learning is reinforced when it is experienced through as many channels as possible. It is fine to read something and try to remember it for future use. It is even better to have written materials, like the notebook each participant is given, and to hear the concepts from an experienced facilitator. It is better yet to try out what is being learned in a supportive, directed way and experience the confidence it takes to try out new ways of thinking and behaving in both body and mind.

As one recent "graduate" said as he left my office last week, "I thought I was too well educated to get anything from this group, but, boy, was I wrong! I learned so much."