The parenting coordination process is primarily designed for families dealing with high levels of conflict. High levels of conflict can be caused by the frequency of disputes, the intensity of a dispute, or the complexity of an issue, which might simply be complicated enough that it puts the parties in a highly stressful situation.

Parenting coordination is appropriate for almost all parents who feel that their relationship with each other or with their children would benefit from the input of an experienced, neutral third party who can provide input, guide the parties in discussions to help them resolve disputes themselves, or make decisions for the parties, if necessary.

Parenting coordination typically is not appropriate if there have been serious or frequent incidents of domestic violence or other abuse within the family, or if one of the parties suffers from serious psychological disorders. While parenting coordination is sometimes appropriate for parents in those unique situations, that level of parenting coordination is typically conducted by a psychologist or other mental health professional.