Parenting Through Separation and Divorce Hub
Get your free guides to parenting through divorce
Helping each unique family thrive
Parenting through divorce is always emotional and can be extremely challenging. Our biggest worry is how we can protect, support and help our children during the inevitable family transformation and change.
Despite the best of intentions, overwhelmed parents can find it hard to keep the needs of their children at the heart of the process. I know, I’ve been there. When parents choose to end their marriage it doesn't have to mean the end of a happy healthy family. With understanding, guidance and a determination to always put the needs of the children first, your new look family can thrive.
The impact of divorce on children's health and wellbeing has been shown to depend upon several very important things: the depth of connection that a child has with each parent, when it's safe to do so, and the level of parental conflict they experience. It's not the divorce that is so damaging to children, it's the conflict that they witness and experience before during and after separation as well as the depth of their relationships that can have a lasting impact on their mental health and well being.
In all my work, we look at how divorce impacts children and what we can each do to mitigate the effects by keeping children at the centre and helping them feel safe, secure, and loved. Putting our childrens' needs first means adjusting to our new role as a co parent with all the emotional challenges that is sometimes involves.
All children need to feel connected, secure and heard. Children of divorce need to feel that they are still at the centre of their family rather than in the middle or left behind. With care, self-awareness and insight you can emerge from your divorce with a deeper, more profound relationship with your children and a relationship with your co-parent that sets them up for a happy and healthy future.
Want to do the best for your kids? You've come to the right place. Why not get in touch?
'I recently completed a 6 week 1 to 1 parenting course and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Heather's positive attitude and ability to make the course enjoyable, interactive and thought provoking has given me a much better understanding of my son, what drives his behaviour and how to respond in challenging situations.' David
'I’ve noticed a very positive improvement in my communications with my children and in turn our relationship is better. The improvement in my own ability to understand and relate to my kids has been (perhaps subconsciously) reciprocated, creating a positive cycle of momentum, they’re approaching conversations with positivity and are in turn met with positivity." Jimmy
Parenting Through Separating and Divorce Course: Helping Each Unique Family Thrive
This 6-week Parenting Through Divorce course is for you if:
- You’re worried about how your separation or divorce will impact your children.
- Feeling guilty, exhausted, overwhelmed and grieving, you can find it hard to keep calm, confident, and present for your kids.
- You're treading on eggshells worrying about what to tell or not tell your kids or how to answer their questions.
- You'd like to understand how divorce and family change affects children at different ages and stages and you'd like tools to help you meet their needs.
- You know it's important for your children's wellbeing today and in the future to have a good enough working relationship with your co-parent and find ways to communicate effectively. This sometimes feels hard and you'd like support.
- You worry about how you can give your kids two houses that feel like homes, maintain firm, consistent boundaries and help them feel supported and secure. You want to help your children build resilience through the changes and help your unique family thrive.
Over Six sessions with handouts and homework you'll learn:
- How divorce impacts your child and what you can do to mitigate the effects.
- Why parental conflict can have a long term negative impact on your kids' health and well being and how to communicate more effectively with your co-parent. You'll learn how to be an active listener, self regulation techniques that feel right for youhow , conflict resolution and how to set and respect boundaries.
- What children's needs are at various ages and stages, how to meet these needs and why temperament is an important factor in how children respond to the changes and transtions inherent in divorce.
- Strategies to help each of your children feel heard and ways to connect with and support them emotionally.
- To feel more confident and empowered to help your family successfully navigate the emotional and practical challenges of separation and divorce while feeling closer and better connected to your child despite the upheaval and change.
- How to provide your child with the stability and predictability they need through a well thought out parenting plan and effective family communication.
Divorce is about transition and change. It's not easy, in fact, it is often very very hard, but armed with understanding, empathy, a willingness to show vulnerability and courage, we can do our very best to help our new look families thrive.
We tailor this course to you and your needs. We work with one parent or both parents separately ( as long as there is no evidence or domestic abuse or neglect) but in parallel covering the same material.
Popular Workshops
Parenting Through Separation and Divorce - 60 minute talk
In this workshop I share practical strategies to help parents sensitively navigate the difficult transitions of separation or divorce. We explore the tools parents need to keep their children at the centre, focus on their needs and help their unique families thrive.
The workshop explores children’s needs, why understanding children’s temperament is vital to helping children cope with change, the importance of finding and teaching coping strategies for the entire family and the vital role of respect.
We look at the importance of what we say, how we say it and how we listen. Parents will learn the vital tools they need to become an Emotion Coach for their children - helping children learn to understand and manage their feelings and their behaviour.
Finally, we explore the importance of connection with each parent and how deep consistent closeness supports children’s self-esteem, resilience, and happiness through the inevitable change that separation and divorce bring.
Get in touch to book this workshop for your organisation. (60 minutes with Q & A)
What participants say:
'Your talk was amazing, truly inspiring' Christopher - Head of Family Mediation
'Just a brilliant workshop' James - Family Mediator
'Your presentation on the FMA conference today was just bloody brilliant' Marianne - Family Mediator