Do trial separations work? Can a relationship benefit from taking a break? It all comes down to outlining clear intentions, communication, and goals. The Gottman Institute recommends the following for a trial separation: Be specific, honest, and vulnerable...
Worried about a bad divorce? These simple tips will help you have an almost-perfect divorce, while protecting your children and launching your family into a healthy future. 1. Don’t threaten divorce if you haven’t thought it through carefully. Be sure – either you...
Jane (not her real name) called me in tears. I had worked with her and her husband in marital counseling for several months a year ago. “Jim just told me he wants a divorce! I did not see this coming, and I don’t know what to do! What if I don’t want to divorce! Can...
Courtney came to my office after her husband had an affair. She wanted counseling to help her decide whether to forgive or divorce him. She was concerned about her three young children and worried about being able to support herself financially. She’d loved being a...
When a divorcing couple has children, it is easy for the parents to get so caught up in their own negative emotions that they don’t focus on the needs of the children. As difficult as it might be, both parents need to set aside their own emotions and focus on the...
Acknowledge the loss If this is the first time your family is not together for Christmas, Hanukkah, or other winter holidays, your kids will feel a sense of loss. They will grieve the loss of the traditions they enjoyed in the past. In addition, they make feel caught...
Holidays without your kids during divorce feels awful. Here are four tips. Published previously on psychologytoday.com Oct 01, 2019 I don’t know how I will survive Thanksgiving this year. It’s the first time I won’t be with my kids. My soon-to-be-ex is taking the kids...
A house is just a building, but a home is filled with hopes, dreams, and memories. The attachment to the home can be almost as strong as an attachment to a living being. The attachment can be long-term – you’ve built a relationship with your home as you...
It’s important to talk to your kids before they hear it from someone else. One of the first questions I am asked is how to talk to your kids about your upcoming separation of divorce. It is one of the most difficult, painful conversations you’ll ever face. When...
Co-Parenting — What does that mean? How can I co-parent with someone who has betrayed me? How do you co-parent after a divorce when we couldn’t parent well while we were married? I don’t even want to parent with him/her anymore! You’re getting divorced and your...
