When mediator Lisanne Iriks and child expert Sharyn Green-Arndt first crossed paths at a family law conference, neither imagined they would go on to create an institute, a national program, and eventually a parenting app. Yet their partnership has become one of the most innovative collaborations in the family law landscape.
Together, through The Co Parenting Institute and their “CoOperate” app, Lisanne and Sharyn have developed practical, psychology-informed tools that support separated families to reduce conflict, improve communication, and protect children from the fallout of entrenched disputes. Their dual expertise – Lisanne’s in mediation and negotiation, Sharyn’s in child psychology and family therapy – offers family our profession unique insights into how to approach high-conflict cases and support clients through separation.
Two Journeys Converge
Lisanne’s path began in law. Originally from the Netherlands, she studied a Masters in Law but quickly realised traditional practice was not her calling. Drawn to people-focused work, she retrained in counselling and discovered mediation. Sixteen years on, she has mediated hundreds of disputes, often involving high-conflict separated parents. Her reflections from countless clients – “If I’d had more help at the beginning, I wouldn’t be here now” – planted the seeds for early intervention programs.
Sharyn, by contrast, has been a psychologist in Perth for more than three decades, specialising in child therapy within family law cases. Early in her career, she was drawn into complex family court matters and quickly became a sought-after expert witness and therapist. But with books permanently closed and demand far exceeding capacity, she began searching for scalable ways to help more families. “For every client I could see, I’d get 100 enquiries from lawyers,” she recalls.
It was the meeting of Lisanne’s mediation lens and Sharyn’s child-focused expertise that created a turning point – quite literally, the name of their first joint program.
The Turning Point Program
Their flagship course, Turning Point, is a six-week hybrid program combining pre-recorded education modules, practical workbooks, and assessment quizzes.
Participants have the opportunity to ask questions via a private link and they will receive an answer via video message. It is accessible to separating parents voluntarily, via lawyer referral, or by court order.
The content covers co-parenting communication, conflict resolution, negotiation strategies, parenting after separation, indirect conflict awareness, and the practical realities of court and mediation. Importantly, sessions are designed for both parents, but never in the same group.
While initially aimed at parents early in their separation journey, the program has also been embraced by courts for entrenched matters. This has led to additional modules on alienating behaviours, personality disorders, and managing high-conflict dynamics.
The team of experts involved in the program is steadily growing and in addition to Lisanne and Sharyn, now includes Dr Phil Watts (Forensic Psychologist), Professor Bruce Smyth (who addresses transitions), Anne Marie Cade (who assists with parenting coordination) and Vicky Pellowe (assisting with how FIFO families can manage challenges). Lisanne and Sharyn explain that they continue to add to their excellent panel of experts to ensure that course participants have access to the best people to assist them through the program.
Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Although court-ordered participants may arrive reluctant, Sharyn notes: “Week one they’re grumpy, but by week two they engage. By the end, they’re saying, I wish I’d known this 18 months ago.”
“When law and psychology work together, families don’t just separate — they heal.”
The Role of Technology – The CoOperate App
Recognising that communication is often the flashpoint in co-parenting, Lisanne and Sharyn turned to technology. They trialled multiple co-parenting apps worldwide, but found them either clunky, poorly supported, or non-compliant with Australian privacy laws. So, against their own expectations, they built their own: the CoOperate app.
The app consolidates all parenting communication in one secure channel. Features such as read receipts, uneditable messages, and secure data storage provide both clarity and safety. Crucially, responsive customer support is part of their service – a rarity in the tech world but vital in family law contexts where non-communication can mean missed time with children.
For lawyers, the app offers practical reassurance. Communication is streamlined, disputes over “who said what” are reduced, and the client’s anxiety around constant phone pings is alleviated.
Insights for Family Lawyers
Drawing on their collective experience, Lisanne and Sharyn share practical takeaways for family lawyers navigating high-conflict parenting cases:
1. Shift from Combat to Collaboration – Lawyers should reframe their role in mediation: fight for the family, not just the client.
2. Educate Clients Early – Early referrals to programs can reduce conflict and prevent entrenched litigation.
3. Recognise the Power of Small Shifts – Even if only one parent changes their behaviour, it improves outcomes for children.
4. Be Mindful of Indirect Conflict – Highlight the impact of background conflict on children, not just overt fights.
5. Mind Your Letters and Language – Aggressive correspondence often escalates conflict unnecessarily.
6. Know When to Step Back – If triggered, take a break. Neutrality from practitioners often sets the tone for clients.
Building a Movement, Not Just a Business
The Co Parenting Institute is more than a service provider; Lisanne and Sharyn see it as a movement. By equipping parents with tools to manage conflict, they aim to break cycles of trauma and protect children’s mental health long term.
Their work has been recognised nationally, with nominations for ADR Project of the Year. But beyond accolades, what excites them most is seeing parents soften, children thrive, and lawyers find relief in having practical, trusted tools to recommend.
The Takeaway for Practitioners
For family lawyers, the lessons are clear:
As Lisanne reflects, “Agreements make a huge difference. But if someone wants to fight, they’ll fight. Our role is to give parents the tools to stop that cycle.”
And as Sharyn adds: “Even if you can’t change your ex, you can change yourself – and that changes everything for your kids.”