Divorce on Planet Earth: Real World Advice for Well-Intentioned Humans

by Kate Scharff

Psychotherapist and divorce expert Kate Scharff, MSW has worked with separating and divorcing families for over 35 years. She's also experienced divorce herself - both as a child and as an adult. So she knows, first-hand, that divorce is more painful and destabilizing, even, than most people imagine. In this podcast Kate and her guests offer compassionate, common-sense, practical and never-preachy advice on even the toughest divorce topics. Their message? Divorce (and parenting during divorce) is tough, and you're only human. But with the right support and advice, you can navigate it so that you (and your kids, if you have them) can emerge whole, happy, and ready to get on with the rest of your life.

Episodes

Episode 21 - Surviving the Holidays After a Divorce PT 1: Tips for People Who Don't Have Kids and People Who Do

24m · Published 19 Dec 16:28

If you're newly separated or divorced, the holidays can be particularly tough- fraught with feelings of loss, loneliness, alienation and destabilization. It can seem that while everyone you know is having a magical family experience, you're struggling alone to find your place as an unpartnered person. In this episode Kate and Jane offer advice for navigating the holidays-- and other significant post-split "firsts"- while maintaining your sanity and beginning to design a new path forward.

Episode 20 - 10 Tips for Telling Your Children About the Divorce - PT 2

29m · Published 23 Oct 02:45

For most divorcing parents, breaking the news to their kids is one the most upsetting parts of the experience. What, when and how to tell them? How to ease their pain? What if you and your future ex can't agree on a message? Take a breath, relax. You need some guidance and a plan. This is Part 2 of Kate and Jane's "10 Tips for Doing a Good Job with the Scariest Conversation of Your Life".

Episode 19 - 10 Tips for Telling Your Children About the Divorce - PT 1

23m · Published 21 Oct 17:44

For most divorcing parents, breaking the news to their kids is one the most upsetting parts of the experience. What, when and how to tell them? How to ease their pain? What if you and your future ex can't agree on a message? Take a breath, relax. You need some guidance and a plan. Kate and Jane offer "10 Tips for Doing a Good Job with the Scariest Conversation of Your Life".

Episode 18 - Discipline During Divorce Part 2: 15 Common Parenting Mistakes

35m · Published 29 Jul 17:56

Divorcing parents want to support their kids and minimize pain. But being a good parent sometimes means taking unpopular positions. And what if you don't have a cooperative co-parent who supports your philosophy? In this episode, Kate and Jane offer practical and empathic advice for handling even the most complex and emotionally fraught divorce discipline challenges.

Episode 17 - Disciplining Children During Divorce – Part 1: Punishment vs. Consequence

57m · Published 29 Jul 17:44

"Now that we're splitting up, should I be softer on the kids or keep doing things the old way?" "Should my ex and I try to have the same rules?" "What if my ex undermines me with the kids?" Deciding how and when to discipline our kids during the emotional maelstrom of divorce is tough. But you can learn to navigate even the thorniest challenges if you start with a solid understanding of what constitutes effective discipline for kids of various ages- divorcing parents or no. In this episode, Kate and Jane discuss their ideas about how best to think about and implement discipline. They explore the difference between punishment and consequence (and why it matters), and offer a list of "11 Things to Keep in Mind When Imposing Consequences."

Episode 16 - How to Choose a Better Partner Next Time

19m · Published 15 Jul 11:19

"How did I get here?", "How did I not see this coming?", "Why did I marry that person in the first place?, "How can I avoid making the same mistakes again?" When you're baffled by your past, it's scary to imagine taking a step into the future. But here's the silver lining of divorce: It offers the possibility of real transformation. In this episode Kate and Jane offer their insights into how to take new control over your emotional choices, find real intimacy, and live your best life going forward.

Episode 15 - No One Gets How Hard Divorce is! Will I Ever Feel Better?

17m · Published 18 Mar 23:30

Divorce can be overwhelming, alienating and lonely. Even when friends and family want to help, they often grow tired of listening, offer unhelpful advice, or are simply at a loss. You may ask yourself "If divorce is so common, how come I'm the only one I know going through it?","Why doesn't anyone understand how hard this is?" or "Will I always be on outside looking in?" In this episode Kate and Jane explore many of the tough but common thoughts and feelings they've heard from people going through separation and divorce (including each other!), and share ideas about how to begin to feel normal again.

Episode 14 - Separated Under the Same Roof

51m · Published 24 Jun 20:34

Divorced but still living under the same roof? There are many reasons separating couples share a home for some period of time during the separation/divorce transition. For some it's a financial or legal necessity, for others part of a long-range plan to share time with children. Some couples find this a torturous "limbo phase," while others think of it as a way to ease the pain for children. Whether it's a necessity or a choice, painful or peaceful, this episode will offer you both food for thought and practical tips for navigating life in the same house when you're no longer a romantic couple.

Episode 13 - The Divorced Parents' Pledge: Part 6 of 6

14m · Published 22 Jun 23:32

Over years of working with children of divorce, Kate has compiled a list of 30 promises every divorcing parent should make to their children. In this sixth and final installment of our special series "The Divorced Parents' Pledge, " Kate and Jane discuss clauses 26-30 of this important list. Take the pledge, you owe it to your kids- and yourself!

Episode 12 - The Divorced Parents' Pledge: Part 5 of 6

17m · Published 21 Jun 23:09

Over years of working with children of divorce, Kate has compiled a list of 30 promises every divorcing parent should make to their children. In this fifth installment of our special series "The Divorced Parents' Pledge, " Kate and Jane discuss clauses 21-25 of this important list. Take the pledge, you owe it to your kids- and yourself!

Divorce on Planet Earth: Real World Advice for Well-Intentioned Humans has 32 episodes in total of non- explicit content. Total playtime is 16:01:05. The language of the podcast is English. This podcast has been added on November 22nd 2022. It might contain more episodes than the ones shown here. It was last updated on May 19th, 2024 00:42.