This week, Meg sat down with Erich Henninger, a Seattle therapist who runs divorce support groups specifically for men.

Erich's view: underneath the arguments about finances and schedules lives a much deeper grief — what he calls "the loss of the dream." Not just the marriage, but the envisioned future. Retirement together. Walking a daughter down the aisle.

One of the most practical ideas Erich shared is the importance of making "bids" — small, no-pressure reach-outs to your kids, especially when they're pulling away. "Send a photo. Text a song you just listened to. Let them know: I'm here. When you're ready, we'll talk." It's the equivalent of knocking gently on the door when your teen storms off — and teens, no matter how annoyed they seem, want you to keep knocking.

Here's more of what we cover in this episode:

• Why men get stuck on finances and legalities instead of what's actually hurting
• "The loss of the dream" — grieving the future you thought you'd have
• How group therapy is uniquely powerful for releasing shame
• Erich's "rebuilding the playground" metaphor for reclaiming the emotions men were taught to hide
• Why bids matter even when your kids don't respond
• What usually keeps men from signing up — and what happens when they do

Books mentioned in this episode: Dr. Lisa Damour's The Emotional Lives of Teenagers and Untangled — both worth having on your shelf if you're parenting tweens or teens through a transition.

P.S. Erich runs two men's divorce support groups out of Seattle (Wednesday and Thursday evenings), with a midday online group launching soon. He offers a free consultation — no pressure, no commitment. Learn more at mindbrooktherapy.com.