Brad Craig | Improving Life for Children Between Two Homes

Melinda Eitzen welcomes longtime colleague and mental health professional Brad Craig to The Melinda Show for a thoughtful discussion about co-parenting, parenting facilitation, and helping families navigate high-conflict family law situations. Drawing from decades of experience in the mental health and family law communities, Brad shares the mission behind his Between Two Homes co-parenting course, book, and workbook—resources used by courts, attorneys, therapists, and parents across Texas and beyond.Throughout the episode, Melinda and Brad explore the emotional realities families face during divorce and separation, particularly from a child’s perspective. They discuss common co-parenting mistakes, including placing children in the middle of conflict, using children as messengers, and unintentionally creating guilt through language such as “I miss you.” Brad explains how education, empathy, and communication skills can help parents shift from being litigants to functioning co-parents focused on their children’s wellbeing.About the GuestBrad Craig is a licensed mental health professional, educator, author, and nationally recognized expert in co-parenting and high-conflict family dynamics.Brad provides parenting facilitation, co-parenting consultation, mediation support, supervised visitation services, and expert witness work throughout Texas. Through his new company, Between Two Homes Direct Services, he works with families, attorneys, and mental health professionals to promote healthier communication, reduce conflict, and prioritize children’s emotional wellbeing during and after family transitions.To contact Brad Craig, please visit Childreninthemiddle.com and Betweentwohomes.comKey Takeaways About Co-Parenting and Parenting Facilitation● Children Should Not Be Put in the Middle: Parents often unintentionally involve children in adult conflict by using them as messengers, investigators, or emotional support systems.● Small Language Changes Matter: Replacing phrases like “I miss you” with “I love you” or “I’m excited to see you” can help reduce feelings of guilt for children moving between two homes.● Education Creates Better Outcomes: Parents who complete co-parenting education often gain a better understanding of conflict, communication, boundaries, and child-centered decision-making.● Parenting Facilitation Supports Communication: Parenting facilitators help parents improve communication, resolve disputes, and focus on cooperative problem-solving rather than continued litigation.● High-Conflict Families Need Structure: Clear communication models, boundaries, and guided negotiation techniques can help reduce escalation between co-parents.● Mental Health Professionals Need Family Law Training: Brad emphasizes the importance of ethical, informed mental health practices within court-involved family cases.● Collaborative and Child-Focused Approaches Matter: The goal should be helping families function more effectively after separation—not increasing conflict through litigation.Notable Quotes“Education in advance is empowerment.”“It seems so innocent to say ‘I miss you,’ but children can internalize guilt from that.”“We want parents to focus on being a family instead of litigants.”“Our job is to educate, empower, and eventually wean families off the need for intervention.”“The number one complaint I hear is: ‘I wish I had taken this sooner.’”“We all make mistakes. We just try to make new ones.”