Many parents are all too familiar with the emotional pain and family turmoil associated with contested custody cases.Parents are more likely to decrease the level of conflict for children For the children involved, that pain and turmoil is vastly multiplied. Most of us question the highly damaging effect of these battles on the child. The collaborative team process is uniquely designed to focus effectively on the needs of the children, by including a child-centered professional on the team. All professionals on the team work with the parents to focus on goals rather than positions, and help parents to understand fully the effects of conflict on their children. Through this process, the parents are more likely to create a co-parenting plan that is satisfactory to all and decreases the level of conflict for the child.