In this episode, Michael Flores, LPC-S, and Jennifer Nobles, LCSW-S, explore how decision making during divorce is often driven more by emotion than logic—whether we realize it or not. Using insight from the book Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss, they unpack the idea that people don’t decide with logic, they decide with emotion and then justify with logic. In a season filled with uncertainty, fear, and high stakes, it’s easy for decisions to come from a reactive place rather than a grounded one. Michael and Jen help listeners recognize the difference and explain why avoiding difficult conversations or decisions often magnifies problems instead of solving them.

They also reframe divorce as an ongoing negotiation—not just with your co-parent, but sometimes with your child and even within yourself. A key takeaway from this conversation is that when someone feels emotionally unseen or unheard, their brain often cannot move toward resolution. By learning to acknowledge emotions—both your own and others’—you create space for more productive conversations, better collaboration, and more thoughtful decisions that serve your family in the long term.

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who could benefit and leave a review of the podcast to help others find this support.

Countering Alienation provides practical tools to help you make grounded decisions and protect your relationship with your child. If you are dealing with a high-conflict co-parent, this course is for you. You will learn communication skills like the ones discussed in this episode to help you improve communication between you, your child, and your co-parent. It’s time to try something new—something that will work.

Register here: https://www.beyonddivorcecourses.com/offers/LoSnQoUH/checkout