In this episode, we’re sharing a behind-the-scenes recap of our recent Costa Rica healing retreat for divorced moms — and what truly unfolded when women stepped out of survival mode and into safety, support, and community.

We talk about the emotional shifts we witnessed, the common breakthroughs that surfaced, and why so many moms arrived carrying more than they realized. From releasing guilt and hypervigilance to feeling deeply seen and understood, this retreat reminded us how powerful it is when women are given space to slow down, regulate their nervous systems, and reconnect with themselves.

We also discuss why healing doesn’t end when a retreat does — and why ongoing support, tools, and community are essential for lasting change after divorce and during co-parenting.

If you’ve been craving deeper support, clarity, and connection on your healing journey, The Next Chapter is where that work continues. Inside the membership, you’ll find practical guidance, emotional support, weekly trainings, live conversations, and a community of women who truly get it.

👉 Enroll in The Next Chapter and continue your healing journey: https://www.samandleah.com/services

#DivorceHealing #HealingAfterDivorce #DivorcedMoms #SingleMomSupport #CoParentingAfterDivorce #NervousSystemHealing #WomenSupportingWomen #DivorceRecovery #TheNextChapter

Self-forgiveness after divorce can feel impossible—especially for moms carrying guilt, shame, and regret about their marriage, their kids, and their co-parenting decisions.

In this episode, we talk honestly about why self-forgiveness is one of the hardest—and most necessary—parts of divorce recovery. We break down what moms commonly blame themselves for, including staying too long, missing red flags, survival-mode coping, emotional reactions, and the impact divorce has on their children.

You’ll learn practical, tangible steps to release self-punishment, separate responsibility from blame, and rebuild trust with yourself as you move forward through divorce and co-parenting. If you find yourself replaying the past, questioning your decisions, or feeling stuck in guilt, this conversation will help you begin letting that weight go.

If this episode resonates and you want continued support, deeper guidance, and real-life tools for healing and co-parenting with confidence, The Next Chapter is where that work continues. Inside the membership, you’ll find weekly support, practical workshops, expert guidance, and a community of moms who truly get it—so you’re not doing this alone.

👉 Join The Next Chapter and take the next step in your healing journey: https://www.samandleah.com/services #SelfForgiveness #DivorceRecovery #HealingAfterDivorce #DivorcedMoms #CoParentingSupport #DivorceHealing #SingleMomLife #HighConflictCoparenting #EmotionalHealing #RebuildingAfterDivorce #TheNextChapter 💙

After divorce, so many women ask the same quiet, unsettling question: Who am I now?

When your identity has been wrapped up in being a wife, a mom, or the one who holds everything together, divorce can leave you feeling untethered—like you don’t recognize yourself anymore.

In this episode, we talk about what identity loss after divorce really looks like, why it’s so common, and why it doesn’t mean anything is wrong with you. We go beyond the labels of “mom” and “ex-wife” and explore how to rebuild a sense of self that feels grounded, confident, and aligned with who you actually are now—not who you had to be to survive your marriage.

You’ll learn:

• Why feeling lost after divorce is a normal response to role loss
  

• How to stop asking “Who am I?” and start reclaiming parts of yourself you had to silence
  

• Why rebuilding identity is about self-trust, not reinvention
  

• Practical, low-pressure ways to explore who you’re becoming without overwhelming yourself
  

• How to build confidence by honoring your needs, boundaries, and values
  

If you’re a divorced mom who’s done surviving and ready to feel like yourself again, this conversation is for you.

💙 Ready for deeper support? Inside The Next Chapter, you’ll get weekly workshops, a private community, practical tools, and real-time support to help you heal after divorce, rebuild confidence, and move forward without doing it alone. 👉 Join us at The Next Chapter and start creating the life that fits who you are now: https://www.samandleah.com/services

Divorce is hard—but wondering whether your child is really okay can feel overwhelming.

In this episode, we talk about one of the biggest fear areas for moms navigating divorce and co-parenting: How to know if your child needs therapy—and how to support them without overreacting or spiraling.

We cover:

• The difference between normal divorce-related emotions and signs your child may need extra support
  

• Common behavioral and emotional patterns to pay attention to (and what not to panic about)
  

• When therapy can be helpful—and when it may actually do more harm than good
  

• How to support your child without making them feel broken or responsible for adult emotions
  

• How to stay involved, informed, and grounded as a parent

This episode is for moms quietly asking: Am I missing something? What if therapy is being weaponized? How do I protect my child without making things worse?

If you’re trying to make thoughtful, calm decisions for your child during an already emotional season, this conversation will help you feel more confident and less alone 💙

✨ Want more support like this? Inside The Next Chapter, our membership for divorced moms, you’ll find trauma-informed workshops, practical co-parenting tools, and a supportive community that truly gets it.

👉 Join The Next Chapter: https://www.samandleah.com/services

#DivorceAndKids #ParentingAfterDivorce #ChildTherapy #CoParentingSupport #DivorcedMoms #HighConflictCoParenting #HealingAfterDivorce #TheNextChapter 💙

Divorce doesn’t just end a marriage — it quietly takes a toll on women’s mental health in ways no one prepares you for.

In this episode, we break down the top 5 ways the divorce process impacts women emotionally, often long before the paperwork is finalized. From living in constant survival mode to feeling intimidated by the legal system, many women leave divorce feeling depleted, anxious, and disconnected from themselves — even when they know they made the right decision.

This conversation isn’t about blaming yourself or your ex. It’s about understanding why divorce feels so destabilizing, especially for women who are used to holding everything together.

If you’ve ever felt:

• constantly on edge waiting for emails, court dates, or updates
  

• emotionally exhausted but expected to “stay rational”
  

• small, dismissed, or rushed by professionals
  

• like peace feels impossible until the divorce is finally over
  

you are not alone — and nothing is wrong with you.

Inside The Next Chapter membership, we go deeper into how women can protect their mental health during divorce — including access to our full workshop, How to Work With Your Attorney and Protect Your Peace, with special guest Christopher Anderson.

If you’re ready to stop living in survival mode and start moving through this process with clarity, confidence, and support, The Next Chapter was created for you.

👉 Join The Next Chapter here: https://www.samandleah.com/services

Mandatory phone calls are often framed as “good co-parenting.” But in high-conflict divorce and custody situations, they can do more harm than good.

In this episode of Divorce with Sam & Leah, we break down why mandatory phone calls don’t belong in high-conflict parenting plans—and why so many moms feel more anxious, powerless, and dysregulated because of them.

We cover:

• How phone calls turn into investigative tools instead of connection
  

• Why mandatory calls often become a harassment or control mechanism
  

• The emotional impact on children before and after high-conflict calls
  

• Why you’re unlikely to get honest answers—and why that keeps you stuck
  

• The hard but necessary truth about accepting limits after divorce
  

If you’re co-parenting with a high-conflict ex and trying to reduce chaos, protect your child’s emotional well-being, and reclaim your peace, this conversation is for you.

💙 Want deeper support, tools, and strategy? Inside The Next Chapter, we help divorced moms heal, set boundaries, and navigate high-conflict co-parenting with clarity and confidence—without burning out or constantly second-guessing themselves.

👉 Join The Next Chapter: https://www.samandleah.com/services

Divorce isn’t just emotionally painful — it can be deeply traumatic.

In this episode, we’re talking about the real trauma that comes with divorce and why so many women feel stuck, triggered, exhausted, or like they “should be further along by now.”

If you’ve ever wondered:

• Why am I still so reactive?
  

• Why does one text from my ex send me into a spiral?
  

• Why does healing feel so slow and messy?
  

This conversation is for you.

We break down how divorce impacts your nervous system, why betrayal and high-conflict co-parenting can keep wounds open, and how losing your marriage can create an identity rupture that no one prepares you for. We also talk about the secondary trauma women experience — judgment, shame, and pressure to “move on” before their body feels safe.

This episode isn’t about pushing through or pretending you’re fine. It’s about understanding what’s actually happening in your body and brain — and why healing requires more than willpower.

✨ Inside this episode, we cover:

• How divorce dysregulates the nervous system
  

• Why betrayal trauma cuts so deep
  

• The identity loss no one warns you about
  

• Why high-conflict co-parenting can feel re-traumatizing
  

• How shame and isolation slow healing
  

If this conversation resonates, this is exactly why we created The Next Chapter — our membership for divorced moms who want real tools, support, and relief.

Inside The Next Chapter, you’ll find trauma-informed workshops that help you:

• Regulate your nervous system during triggers
  

• Release stored emotional trauma
  

• Understand why you react the way you do
  

• Heal without spiritual bypassing or toxic positivity
  

• Feel grounded and emotionally safe again
  

You don’t have to white-knuckle your way through healing. You don’t have to do this alone.

👉 Join The Next Chapter today and access our trauma workshops, live support, replays, and a community of women who get it: https://www.samandleah.com/services

💙 Your healing matters. Your nervous system matters. And support changes everything.

Divorce can feel isolating, overwhelming, and emotionally exhausting—especially for moms navigating healing, co-parenting, boundaries, and high-conflict dynamics. In this episode of Divorce with Sam & Leah, we pull back the curtain on The Next Chapter, our private membership created specifically for divorced and divorcing moms who are ready to stop surviving and start rebuilding.

We break down what The Next Chapter actually is, who it’s for, and why traditional support systems often fall short for women going through divorce. From live weekly workshops and expert-led trainings to real-life tools for emotional regulation, boundary setting, and confident co-parenting, this episode gives you a clear picture of how healing can feel supported instead of lonely.

You’ll hear about the specialists and experts we’ve brought inside the membership—including family law attorneys, trauma-informed therapists, financial professionals, nervous system educators, and co-parenting strategists—and how these conversations help moms feel more empowered, informed, and regulated during one of the hardest seasons of their lives.

If you’re a divorced mom feeling stuck in survival mode, constantly second-guessing yourself, or exhausted by high-conflict co-parenting, this episode is for you. You don’t need to do this alone—and you don’t need to figure it out the hard way.

✨ The Next Chapter is where healing becomes actionable, boundaries become confident, and support becomes consistent.

👉 Ready to stop doing divorce alone? Check out The Next Chapter membership and join a community of moms who are healing, rebuilding their confidence, and creating calmer, more grounded lives after divorce: https://www.samandleah.com/services

#DivorceRecovery #DivorcedMoms #HealingAfterDivorce #HighConflictCoparenting #SingleMomSupport #DivorceSupport #CoParentingHelp #LifeAfterDivorce #EmotionalHealing #WomenSupportingWomen #BoundariesAfterDivorce #DivorcePodcast #TheNextChapter #DivorceWithSamAndLeah

If you’re facing a high-conflict divorce or co-parenting situation and wondering how to do things smarter, not harder, this episode is for you.

In this powerful conversation, Sam breaks down the top 5 things she would do differently if she were divorcing a high-conflict person in 2026—with today’s realities in mind: narcissistic behavior, manipulation, custody conflict, legal overwhelm, emotional burnout, and the long game of protecting your peace and your kids.

This isn’t theory. These are real-world, hard-earned strategies for women divorcing a high-conflict or narcissistic ex who want to stop reacting, start planning, and avoid the most common (and costly) mistakes.

If you’re divorcing, recently divorced, or stuck co-parenting with a high-conflict ex, this episode will help you feel more grounded, empowered, and clear on your next steps.

✨ Want ongoing support, tools, and real guidance from women who get it? Check out The Next Chapter membership—a private community for divorced moms navigating high-conflict divorce and co-parenting. Inside, you’ll find weekly workshops, expert guidance, live support, and practical tools to help you heal, rebuild confidence, and move forward without losing yourself.

👉 Learn more and join us inside The Next Chapter https://www.samandleah.com/services

Disney didn’t just entertain us — it conditioned us.

From princess stories to cultural messaging, many women were taught at a young age what to expect, tolerate, and sacrifice in the name of “love.” Self-abandonment was romanticized. Emotional labor was normalized. Endurance was praised. And choosing yourself? Rarely modeled.

In this episode, we unpack how early conditioning—from Disney movies, family dynamics, religion, and society—shapes the partners we choose and the unhealthy beliefs we carry into adult relationships.

We explore:

• Why so many women confuse self-sacrifice with love

• How trauma, attachment styles, and nervous system dysregulation affect attraction

• Why intensity gets mistaken for chemistry

• How being “chosen” became a measure of worth

• Why staying too long is often praised more than leaving when something is no longer healthy
  

  This conversation is especially for divorced or divorcing women who are realizing: “I didn’t choose wrong because I was broken — I chose based on what I was taught.”

If you’ve ever wondered why you tolerated less than you deserved, why safe love felt boring, or why leaving felt harder than staying — this episode will help you connect the dots and start rewriting your relationship blueprint.

✨ Healing starts with unlearning. And you don’t have to do it alone.

If this episode resonates, check out The Next Chapter membership — a supportive space for divorced moms who are ready to heal, rebuild confidence, set boundaries, and stop repeating the same relationship patterns. 👉 https://www.samandleah.com/services