I was speaking on BBC radio about a new piece of research around mental health and stepfamilies. What struck me as unhelpful & laden with negativity is the word ‘BROKEN’ to describe parents who are divorced, separated or apart. Broken implies a failure, broken implies damaged, no longer able to work, something destroyed & dysfunctional but […]
How the news hits a three-year-old is very different to how a 15-year-old understands and reacts to the news – that’s why it’s important to include your teenager in your discussions around your contact arrangements where it feels appropriate, to avoid resentment building up between all of you. Of course, don’t hand over all the […]
This month I have been working with a wonderful group of parents who are all going through a divorce and one of their main worries was how to tell the children about what was going to happen and what to actually say to them. Children naturally fear that they will lose one of their […]
Younger couples who come from broken homes have led a backlash against divorce, a report claimed yesterday. Lawyers said declining divorce rates over the past 20 years are the result of the bitter experiences of children whose parents parted when divorce was at its peak in the 1980s and early 1990s. Now married and possibly […]
It’s vital that you DON’T make your children feel that they have to take sides. It’s bad enough that some family and friends feel that they have to. In this video I talk to you about how your divorce may affect the relationship you have with Family & Friends. What have you come up against […]
We all go through endings. Sometimes we say goodbye to friends, family, lovers, partners, jobs and to those who have died. But do you understand how to handle goodbyes with grace, compassion, and kindness? Have you ever pondered that marking an ending with a simple ritual helps you to move forward, or move on, or be […]
I found the Form E totally daunting so I asked Neil Russell to talk me through it to help you. Looking after your children. Separation and divorce are traumatic events for families. I wrote this journal for children going through divorce as it is designed to help children express, explore and understand some of the strong emotions […]
MONEY ! It all rather bluntly boils down to the kids and money. It’s vital that you get professional advice at this time from an independent financial advisor. Most people are really, really worried about the money side of things but good financial advice around what you are entitled to will make a HUGE difference […]
I have been working with two families going through the process of divorcing and what has struck me is how the news that Mummy & Daddy are separating can vary depending on the age of the children. How the news hits a 3 year old is very different to how an 11 year old understands […]
In this video I talk to you about how to tell your employer that you are going through a divorce. Lots of people I work 1-2-1 with struggle with what to say and worry how it will impact on their work colleagues perception of them. Also I talk to you about talking to family and […]
In this Divorce Step by Step video I talk you through the legal stuff. It’s REALLY important that you take your time to find a really good lawyer that you can relate to. It’s important to keep things out of Court if at ALL possible as it gets messy, aggressive and EXPENSIVE and the only […]
I always say to the parents that I work 1-2-1 with that ‘Divorce is a process NOT an event.’ I also say that it’s not the divorce that damages children, but the level of conflict they experience, that can have long term repercussions, even into their own adult relationships, so getting this part of the […]
Looking after your own health and wellbeing is absolutely crucial in being able to look after your children through this really challenging process. In this video I personally guide you through a very important aspect of the divorce process – your own personal well-being. How will a divorce affect your own health and well-being? Take […]
Separation and divorce are traumatic events for families. Under such pressure and stress your energy for putting boundaries around your kids can seem like a step too far as you are so tired, but keeping your discipline consistent can really help your children cope as it gives familiarity and structure to their lives when so […]
In this Divorce Step By Step video I discuss the importance of what the children think as you go through the divorce process. You may be surprised about their take on events. Talking & more importantly listening and being there for your children at this time of huge change is important. I created my ‘Divorce […]
