Frequently Asked Questions

Guardian House has been providing supervised visitation services since 1997. Guardian House’s supervised visitation program allows children to have access to non-custodial parents in a safe, therapeutic environment, facilitated by a trained professional.

Guardian House offers two parenting education classes that parents in our Supervised Visitation program can participate in: Triple P Positive Parenting and Cooperative Parenting. Triple P covers practical strategies to build strong relationships, promote children’s development, and manage behavior confidently and positively. Cooperative Parenting helps parents work together respectfully and effectively to support their child’s well-being, communication, and stability across households.

 Guardian House is a neutral, third party. Each parent’s information remains confidential and is not disclosed to the other party. Interactions with children and non-custodial party will be monitored at all times and documented. 

Clients can expect to have a safe, supervised visitation without having any interaction with the other parent/guardian. Guardian House will assist in building and healing the relationship between the children and non-custodial parent. We support the non-custodial parent in acquisition of healthy parenting practices, if needed. Additionally, we help prepare children for visitation and provide children assistance with developing coping skills and finding their voice. In most circumstances the maximum length of time for each period of supervised visitation is 2 hours.

We need either a court order signed by a judge or a Rule 11 Agreement.

Request for services should be emailed to intakes@guardianhouse.org and must include a copy of the signed court order. Upon receipt, Guardian House will review the court order and send an email – typically within 2 business days – with the intake packet, which is completed online. After intake packet completion, client will call Guardian House to schedule, and pay for, their one-hour intake appointment. During the intake appointment Guardian House will review policies with the client, including cost of services, and the client will receive a copy of their signed policies.

Once both parties have completed the intake interview, provided all required documentation and paid any outstanding fees (if applicable) the intake process is considered complete. After the intake process is complete and before visitation begins, a Child Orientation will be conducted with each child participating in supervised visitation services to prepare them for visitation and assess for children’s concerns to assist with safety planning.

After the Child Orientation is complete, both parties will be contacted by phone to let them know that the non-custodial party may now begin requesting visits.

Note: A Child Orientation is not mandatory and visits will proceed if we are unable to schedule a Child Orientation.

Note: In the event services do not begin, intake paperwork will remain on file for six months. After that, the intake process and fees must be completed again to have an active intake or to start services.

This depends on how quickly each party completes the required steps. If both parties respond promptly and provide necessary documentation, visits can often begin within a week.

With a Bexar County Two Page Order fees are based on income and start at $10 per hour of visitation. Without the Bexar County Two Page Order the fee is between $95 and $155 per hour.  

Monday – Sunday

Yes – if court ordered or as a therapeutic intervention as determined by Guardian House.

When:

1. Children turn 18 and are no longer under court order.
2. Court order changes.
3. Either parent stops using services.
4. Client is terminated for violating Guardian House policies. If a client is terminated for violating policies, they are unable to return for services.

Request for services should be emailed to intakes@guardianhouse.org and must include a copy of the signed court order. Upon receipt, Guardian House will review the court order and send an email – typically within 2 business days – with the intake packet, which is completed online. After intake packet completion, client will call Guardian House to schedule, and pay for, their one-hour intake appointment. During the intake appointment Guardian House will review policies with the client, including cost of services, and the client will receive a copy of their signed policies.

Once both parties have completed the intake interview, provided all required documentation and paid any outstanding fees (if applicable) the intake process is considered complete. After the intake process is complete and before visitation begins, a Child Orientation will be conducted with each child participating in supervised visitation services to prepare them for visitation and assess for children’s concerns to assist with safety planning.

After the Child Orientation is complete, both parties will be contacted by phone to let them know that the non-custodial party may now begin requesting visits.

Note: A Child Orientation is not mandatory and visits will proceed if we are unable to schedule a Child Orientation.

Note: In the event services do not begin, intake paperwork will remain on file for six months. After that, the intake process and fees must be completed again to have an active intake or to start services.

Guardian House has been providing Monitored Kids Exchanges since 1997. Monitored Kids Exchanges take place in a conflict-free setting, allowing the safe transfer of children from one parent to the other, who can’t have contact with one another.

Guardian House offers two parenting education classes that parents in our Monitored Kids Exchange program can participate in: Triple P Positive Parenting and Cooperative Parenting. Triple P covers practical strategies to build strong relationships, promote children’s development, and manage behavior confidently and positively. Cooperative Parenting helps parents work together respectfully and effectively to support their child’s well-being, communication, and stability across households.

Clients can expect to have a safe, supervised custody exchange without having any interaction with the other parent/guardian. Children are supervised at all times while waiting for their parent to pick them up and have choices of fun activities to engage in while they wait.

Guardian House is a neutral, third party. Each parent’s information remains confidential and is not disclosed to the other party. We serve as a go-between for parents, handling scheduling, documenting communications, and keeping records of every child’s pick-up and drop-off for safety and peace of mind. 

 A court order is not required; families can use our services if they mutually agree or have a Rule 11 Agreement.

Without a court order or Bexar County Two Page Court Order, the cost is $55-$80 per exchange. With a  Bexar County Two Page Order fees are based on income and start at $10 per exchange.

Monday – Sunday

No.

When –

1. Children turn 18 and are no longer under court order.
2. Court order changes.
3. Either parent stops using services.
4. Client is terminated for violating Guardian House policies. If a client is terminated for violating policies, they are unable to return for services.

Request for services should be emailed to intakes@guardianhouse.org and must include a copy of the signed court order. Upon receipt, Guardian House will review the court order and send an email – typically within 2 business days – with the intake packet, which is completed online. After intake packet completion, client will call Guardian House to schedule, and pay for, their one-hour intake appointment. During the intake appointment Guardian House will review policies with the client, including cost of services, and the client will receive a copy of their signed policies.

Once both parties have completed the intake interview, provided all required documentation and paid any outstanding fees (if applicable) the intake process is considered complete.

Note: In the event services do not begin, intake paperwork will remain on file for six months. After that, the intake process and fees must be completed again to have an active intake or to start services.

Guardian House offers one parenting education class, the Triple P Positive Parenting Program; two co-parenting classes, Shared Parenting and Cooperative Parenting; and one class that combines parenting education with co-parenting, Family Transitions.

Comprised of 8 two-hour classes, Triple P covers basic positive parenting skills and other behavioral strategies to improve a parent’s ability to cope with raising children.

Shared Parenting is only available to clients that have been referred by the Domestic Relations Office and consists of 4 two-hour groups.

Cooperative Parenting is an 8 week course that teaches parents how to communicate respectfully, reduce conflict, and work together in the best interest of their child, when living separately.

Family Transitions is a combination of the Triple P class with 5 additional weeks which focus on co-parenting. This is part of the Triple P America course offering.

Interactive sessions that are available in English and Spanish. Sessions are available in-person and virtually.

Triple P participants receive free workbooks valued at $100, food during in-person classes, and may request bus passes. At the conclusion of the class participants receive a gift card and certificate of completion.

Shared Parenting participants receive a certificate of completion at the conclusion of the group.

Cooperative Parenting participants receive a workbook, have the option to work with a therapist specifically around issues with their parenting situation and receive a certificate of completion at the conclusion of the group.

Family Transitions participants receive free workbooks valued at $100, food during in-person classes, and may request bus passes. At the conclusion of the class participants receive a gift card and certificate of completion.

No.

For Shared Parenting, a referral from the DRO is required.

N/A

Free, with the exception of Cooperative Parenting which is offered at a sliding scale rate when the class is court ordered.

Monday – Saturday

Yes.

Triple P – after completion of all 8 two-hour classes.

Shared Parenting – after completion of all 4 two-hour group sessions.

Cooperative Parenting – after completion of all 8 two- hour classes.

Family Transitions – after completion of all 15 two-hour classes.

Your client can contact Guardian House to register for a class and, typically within 2 business days, they will be emailed an intake packet. The intake packet is completed online, and should be completed prior to their first class. The intake packet must be completed in order to receive incentives and a certificate of completion for the course.

Guardian House offers Mental Health Counseling and Reunification Counseling, on a sliding scale. Services are available to all ages, starting at 5 years old to older adults, as well as individuals, couples, and families. English and Spanish speaking counselors are available in-person and virtually.

Mental Health Counseling – Clients can expect a confidential, supportive space to explore emotions, manage stress, address mental health concerns, and develop healthy coping skills with guidance from a licensed professional.

Reunification Counseling – Clients can expect a structured, goal-focused process that supports repairing and strengthening the relationship between a child and parent, emphasizing safety, communication, and gradual rebuilding of trust under professional guidance. (In-person only)

Yes – only for Reunification Counseling.

No.

Free – During Counseling Clinic, in which master’s level counseling students provide counseling with in-person supervision from a licensed clinician.

Mental Health Counseling sliding scale – starts at $35 and increases based on income.

Reunification Counseling sliding scale – starts at $55 and increases based on income.

Counseling Clinic – Wednesdays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm.

Mental Health Counseling – Monday – Sunday (weekends based on counselor availability)

Yes, for Counseling Clinic and Mental Health Counseling.

No, for Reunification Counseling.

Mental Health Counseling – when the client terminates or treatment goals are met.

Reunification Counseling – when treatment goals are met.

Your client, or any individual, may contact Guardian House to begin Mental Health Counseling. They will be sent an intake packet which is completed online. After completion of the intake packet, your client will call Guardian House to schedule their intake appointment with a counselor, where Informed Consent will be reviewed and a treatment plan is determined.

Note: Reunification Counseling is by court order only and is in-person.

Reunification Counseling (RC) allows the children and their non-custodial parent to reestablish a healthy, relationship. RC occurs ideally prior to starting/transitioning to visitation. RC is aimed at healing past trauma in the family system and requires participation from both parents and the children. RC includes individual sessions with the children and non-custodial parent as well as family sessions with the non-custodial parent and children. Family sessions do not include the custodial parent. Goals are determined in coordination with the custodial parent and non-custodial parent as well as the children. After the intake sessions, RC typically occurs for 6-8 sessions.

Your client can contact the intake department at intakes@guardianhouse.org for an updated status.

No. All services provided to clients of Guardian House and any case notes Guardian House keeps on clients are kept confidential. Case files may be subpoenaed by the attorney.

No. Per the Texas Family Code, 104.008. CERTAIN TESTIMONY PROHIBITED. (a) A person may not offer an expert opinion or recommendation relating to the conservatorship of or possession of or access to a child at issue in a suit unless the person has conducted a child custody evaluation relating to the child under Subchapter D, Chapter 107.