Welcome to an enlightening conversation with my guest, Ann Buscho. Ann is Psychotherapist practicing in CA, who is the mother of three and stepmother of three. We’ll learn more today about the technique called “collaborative divorce,” but we’ll also discuss ways to reframe the language we use around divorce and its many-faceted issues that affect both adults and kids. I think you’ll find this conversation helpful in many ways. Join us for this incredibly insightful interview!
What you’ll hear in this episode:
- Why Ann decided to focus her work primarily on adults—after years of working with children
- What is “collaborative divorce”?
- Why collaborative divorce can be a great option instead of going to court
- The health and welfare of the family are the primary focus
- The language—it doesn’t have to be the language of “the broken home”
- Maximizing the time with your kids
- Language: Peace-building vs. Adversarial
- Why collaborative divorce is an interest-based process
- Divorce: 95% emotional and 5% legal
- “Ripping off the bandage”
- What to talk about in front of the kids
- Why kids need reassurance
- Self-care and the single parent
- How different rules cause conflict
- The “loyalty bind”
- Why kids need to hear good things about BOTH parents
- The choices we make
- Be curious about your kids’ feelings
- Helping kids accept step-parents and new partners
- Why your kids DON’T need all the details