There is a lot of guilt and shame associated with divorce, especially when it comes to our kids. We worry about how the experience will impact our children long-term and wonder if it’s even possible to communicate effectively as co-parents—when a breakdown in communication is what caused many of our problems to begin with! What steps can we take to be mindful co-parents and ensure that our kids will be okay?

Dr. Jeremy Gaies is a licensed psychologist and certified family mediator based in Tampa, Florida. Dr. Gaies is passionate about helping divorcing families pursue peaceful solutions, and he is an advocate of the collaborate model at the local, state and national level. He is also the author of A Clear and Easy Guide to Collaborative Divorce and the co-author of Mindful Co-Parenting: A Child-Friendly Path Through Divorce.

Today, Dr. Gaies joins Katherine to explain how a less adversarial divorce leads to better outcomes for children. They discuss the benefits of the collaborative model, describing how it supports divorcing couples in learning to communicate effectively as co-parents. Dr. Gaies shares his six keys to mindful co-parenting and offers insight around navigating disagreements around what is best for your children. Listen in to understand how Dr. Gaies coaches divorcing couples to develop communication skills and learn why effective communication is critical to the success of the co-parenting relationship!

Topics Covered

How a less adversarial divorce leads to better outcomes for children

The intentionality of the collaborative divorce model

Dr. Gaies’ keys to mindful co-parenting

1. Put children first

2. Focus forward

3. Communicate effectively

4. Honor agreements

5. Maintain boundaries

6. Manage emotions

How to navigate disagreements around what is best for children

Why communication is critical to the success of any relationship

How the collaborative process supports parents in learning to communicate

The role of education, modeling and coaching to foster communication skills

Dr. Gaies’ ‘pause and edit’ technique for effective email communication

Connect with Dr. Jeremy Gaies

Dr. Gaies on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jeremy-s-gaies-psy-d-09349810/

Email [email protected]

Connect with Katherine Miller

The Center for Understanding Conflict: http://understandinginconflict.org/

Miller Law Group: https://westchesterfamilylaw.com/

Katherine on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kemiller1

The New Yorker’s Guide to Collaborative Divorce by Katherine Miller: https://www.amazon.com/New-Yorkers-Guide-Collaborative-Divorce/dp/0692496246

Email: [email protected]

Call (914) 738-7765

Resources

Mindful Co-Parenting: A Child-Friendly Path Through Divorce by Jeremy S. Gaies and James B. Morris Jr.: https://www.amazon.com/Mindful-Co-parenting-Child-Friendly-through-Divorce/dp/1499677529

A Clear and Easy Guide to Collaborative Divorce by Jeremy S. Gaies: https://www.amazon.com/Clear-Easy-Guide-Collaborative-Divorce-ebook/dp/B07B75Z2XM