Families in the Dorset Council area can now access free relationship therapy through the Support for Inter-Parental Communication (SIPCo) project.
The programme is open to parents with children aged up to 18, or up to 25 for young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
The aim is to help couples and co-parents communicate more effectively, including learning how to handle disagreements constructively.
Support is provided by a local team, and families do not need to be involved with children’s services to take part in the project.
Cllr Claire Sutton, Dorset Council Cabinet Member for Children Services, Education and Skills, said: “Arguments are a part of normal family life, but we know that children struggle to thrive in a home where their parents or carers are arguing all the time or where the conflict is never resolved. So I am pleased that we are offering this help to families in Dorset who are struggling to communicate well with each other.”
One Dorset participant said: “I was sceptical about it at first but gave it a go and it turned out to be brilliant. I can’t recommend it enough. It really helped us reconnect and see where the other person was coming from.”
The SIPCo project is running until April 2026 and is funded to improve family relationships through better communication.
For full details and to take part, visit: dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.