Better Conversations - An Online Tool to Reduce Parental Conflict

Better Conversations

Research shows that parental conflict can harm children's mental health and wellbeing.   

Better Conversations, which is informed by mentalization-based therapy, is a role play tool which can be accessed on a PC or a mobile that gives parents and co-parents the space to learn to communicate more productively with each other, with the aim of reducing conflict between them.

Better Conversations contains a range of conversation topics which have the potential to lead to conflict. The tool allows you to practise better communication and find out why one choice of response may well escalate tension, while another may reduce the likelihood of arguments.

Each of the Better Conversations scenarios takes only a few minutes to complete. Parents can then go through the same scenario, making different choices in order to see how these choices affect how the conversation then plays out. 

View the video below to find out more.

A new digital approach to helping couple communication

Better Conversations is a web-based, simple to use role-play tool created by Tavistock Relationships to help parents and co-parents have better, less conflicted, conversations with their partner or ex-partner.

FAQs

What is Better Conversations?

Better Conversations is a web-based, simple to use role-play tool created by Tavistock Relationships to help parents and co-parents have better, less conflicted, conversations with their partner or ex-partner.

How does Better Conversations work?

A parent using Better Conversations - which can be accessed on a PC or a mobile phone - is given the opportunity to respond to an opening statement written from the standpoint of an partner or ex-partner.

For example, one of the scenarios used in Better Conversations is of a separated parent being late to collect their son for the weekend. The parent using Better Conversations is therefore asked to respond to the opening statement: “What time do you call this?’ by choosing from two statements in reply.

Better Conversations is designed so that each time the parent is given a choice of two statements, one is likely to increase tensions between the partners or co-parents, while the other is likely to decrease. Information bubbles appear on the screen when the parent chooses on or other of the statements, explaining why the statement they have chosen may increase or decrease tension.

When the parent makes a choice of statement, this then leads to a response from the person playing the role of their partner or ex-partner. This continues until the parent has completed the programme.

Better Conversations therefore gives parents a real-time experience of what it is like to navigate difficult conversations, but with help to think about and explore how the statements they make in response to their partner or ex-partner can ramp up or reduce the conflict between them.

What is the approach used in Better Conversations based on?

Better Conversations is informed by mentalization-based therapy, in that it helps parents to think about the feelings, thoughts and intentions of their partner or ex-partner. It is a light touch learning tool for parents who are experiencing conflict with their partner or ex-partner.

How can my local authority access Better Conversations?

For more information about Better Conversations and costs, please see our brochure. Or to enquire about purchasing licences for Better Conversations, please email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

screen shots of different Better Conversations scenarios around parental conflict
screen grab of choices of positive and negative statments to co-parent
screen grab of answer choice with response advice pop-up

How is Better Conversations accessed?

Better conversations is delivered via your web browser, so it works on computers and mobile devices including mobile phones.

Better Conversation parenting communication tool on laptop and mobile phone

© Tavistock Relationships 2021. All Rights Reserved.

For technical queries please contact us at the following email address:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tavistock Relationships,10 New Street, London EC2M 4TP

Tel: 020 7380 1975

Registered Charity Number: 211058. Tavistock Institute of Medical Psychology | Company number: 241618

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