She Coined the Term “Co-Parenting” - Anne P. Mitchell on Surviving False Allegations

Some of the language we all use in family court every day didn’t always exist. The word “co-parenting” is one of them — and the attorney credited with introducing it sits down with us in this conversation. Anne P. Mitchell was one of the first two attorneys in the United States to fight for a child’s right to an ongoing relationship with their father after separation, and what she learned across decades in the trenches of high-conflict custody is exactly what targeted parents need to hear today.

In this first part of our conversation, Anne walks us through the warning signs that a false allegation of abuse is on its way, the simple steps that protect you before one ever lands, and the co-parent counseling model she helped pioneer — including the surprisingly effective way to get a judge to order it.

🎯 What You’ll Learn:
✅ Where the term “co-parenting” actually came from — and why the framing matters for your case
✅ The real driver behind most high-conflict acrimony, and how to recognize it escalating
✅ The early warning signs that a false allegation of abuse may be coming
✅ Concrete steps to protect yourself before an allegation is ever made
✅ What co-parent counseling is, what it isn’t, and why it works when little else does
✅ The “cut the cake” method for getting a resistant ex to agree to counseling
✅ How to get a judge to order co-parent counseling — and why they so rarely refuse
✅ Why proving a false allegation can flip custody in some states
✅ The danger of the “silver bullet” restraining-order strategy being pitched online
✅ When it may be time to find a different lawyer — and how to advocate without alienating the one you have

👩‍⚖️ About Anne P. Mitchell:

Anne P. Mitchell is an attorney, law professor, and law dean emeritus, as well as a legal journalist. She was one of the first two attorneys in the United States to advocate for a child’s right to an ongoing relationship with their father after separation — work she began even before law school, when she founded an advocacy group and testified before the New York legislature. She is credited with introducing the term “co-parenting,” co-developed an early model of co-parent counseling, and is the author of “They’re Your Kids Too,” a guide for parents navigating a broken family law system. Still licensed in California, she continues to write and advocate for children and parents.