The High Conflict Co-Parenting Podcast

In Episode 7 of the High Conflict Co-Parenting Podcast, Brooke and Charlie explore an important question for parents navigating high-conflict divorce and custody situations: What do you really want, and what will it take to get there?

When parents are caught in years of conflict over custody, money, assets, and other disputes, it can become difficult to see beyond survival and the next battle. The hosts discuss how identifying what you truly need, what your children need, and what is actually worth fighting for can help you move forward.

Brooke and Charlie share real-world examples of parents who became stuck in prolonged conflict, sometimes spending years, significant financial resources, and enormous emotional energy fighting battles that ultimately prevented them from moving on.

This episode examines how to distinguish between fighting for justice, fighting for survival, and fighting over things that may no longer serve you or your children. The conversation also explores why it can sometimes be easier to identify what you don't want first, and how that clarity can help you determine what you actually need.

If you're struggling to move forward after a high-conflict divorce, this episode offers practical perspective on defining your priorities, reducing unnecessary conflict, and developing strategies to build a healthier path forward for yourself and your children.

In this episode of the High Conflict Co-Parenting Podcast, Brook Olsen and Nicola Ranson delve into the complexities of coercive control, narcissism, and the dynamics of abusive relationships, including cult-like behaviors. They discuss the impact of these dynamics on victims, the importance of recovery, and strategies for navigating family dynamics and parental alienation. The conversation delves into the dynamics of coercive control, narcissism, and the healing process from trauma, particularly in the context of abusive relationships and cults. It emphasizes the importance of understanding these dynamics, the role of self-compassion, and the complexities involved in recovery and personal growth.

Brooke Olsen and Eric Sjoberg look at how conflict shows up in every relationship, healthy or not, and how the way we handle it is shaped by the family we grew up in. The conversation centers on three things: conflict avoidance, aggression, and boundary setting.

In this episode of the High Conflict Co-Parenting Podcast, host Brook Olsen sits down with Beven Burns, Executive Director of Bridges Middle School, the only middle school in Oregon exclusively serving neurodivergent students. Beven shares how her school builds belonging, confidence, and community for kids with ADHD and other forms of neurodivergence — helping them move from feeling excluded to feeling truly understood. The conversation dives into the shame and stigma many families carry, the power of viewing neurodivergence through an asset-based lens rather than a deficit-based one, and practical strategies for parents — especially in co-parenting households — like the power of the pause, mindful breathing, and building predictable routines. Beven also recommends resources like understood.org for parents seeking support and tools to navigate neurodivergence at home and at school.

In this episode, Brooke sits down again with Michelle Mitchell for a conversation on "getting it right" in co-parenting and coaching. They trace Michelle's own journey — from her early co-parenting years and first classes back in 2013–2014, through training with Brooke, to becoming a coach herself — and use it as a mirror for where many listeners are today. The conversation moves through the evolution of coaching and training over time, the triage model for managing crisis versus deeper work, and why simplifying internal systems matters more than accumulating more knowledge. They also dig into the difference between knowing a skill and embodying it, the role of awareness and integrity in staying out of reactive patterns, why AI can't replace the discernment needed for real internal work, and why this is ultimately a lifelong journey rather than a problem to solve once.

Chapters:
00:00 The Journey of Getting It Right
05:30 The Triage Model and Layered Learning
21:13 The Impact of Behavior and Orientation
27:49 Protecting Children in Conflict
34:33 Conscious Parenting and Generational Shift
40:30 The Importance of Quality over Volume
53:14 The Journey of Personal Growth
59:00 The Lifelong Journey of Personal Development

About our guest:
Michelle Mitchell, J.D., is a California-licensed attorney and founder of High Conflict Resolutions, LLC, a Certified HCDP™ Coach and Educator and a Certified New Ways for Families® Instructor whose practice spans high-conflict co-parenting coaching, structured co-parenting communication coaching, parent coordination, and litigation preparation.

Connect with Michelle:

• Website: coparentingcoach.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @coparentingwithmichelle
• Facebook: Coach Michelle SD
• LinkedIn: Michelle D. Mitchell

If you're ready for structure instead of chaos, go to https://disengage.highconflict.net/next-step and take the next step. We'll guide you from there.

For classes or one-on-one consults with Brook, please visit our website to register: https://www.highconflict.net/

Free High Conflict Diversion Program Booklet: "When Co-Parenting Doesn't Work." https://disengage.highconflict.net/free-booklet

Join our mailing list: https://disengage.highconflict.net/emails
Disengage and Thrive: One Email at a Time

In this insightful interview, Oona Metz, author of 'Unhitched,' shares her expertise on the emotional journey of divorce, the gender dynamics involved, and practical strategies for navigating this challenging life transition. Discover how to turn divorce into a transformative experience and support your mental health through support groups and self-care.

If you're ready for structure instead of chaos, go to https://disengage.highconflict.net/next-step and take the next step. We’ll guide you from there.

For classes or one on one consults with Brook please visit our  website to register. https://www.highconflict.net/

Free High Conflict Diversion Program Booklet: "When Co-Parenting Doesn't Work." https://disengage.highconflict.net/free-booklet

Join our mailing list: https://disengage.highconflict.net/emails

Disengage and Thrive: One Email at a Time

In this insightful interview, Sol Kennedy discusses the innovative AI-powered co-parenting app, Best Interest, designed to reduce conflict and improve communication between high-conflict parents. Brooke Olsen explores the platform's features, challenges, and the importance of personal growth in co-parenting.

If you're ready for structure instead of chaos,

go to https://disengage.highconflict.net/next-step

and take the next step. We’ll guide you from there.

For classes or one on one consults with Brook please visit our  website to register. https://www.highconflict.net/

Free High Conflict Diversion Program Booklet: "When Co-Parenting Doesn't Work." https://disengage.highconflict.net/free-booklet

Join our mailing list: https://disengage.highconflict.net/emails

Disengage and Thrive: One Email at a Time

In this episode, Ron Platt from NASDF shares a comprehensive overview of resources and initiatives designed to support families navigating divorce and single parenthood. Discover innovative programs, legal reforms, and community support systems aimed at reducing conflict, financial stress, and intergenerational poverty.

If you're ready for structure instead of chaos, go to https://disengage.highconflict.net/next-step and take the next step. We’ll guide you from there.

For classes or one on one consults with Brook please visit our  website to register. https://www.highconflict.net/

Free High Conflict Diversion Program Booklet: "When Co-Parenting Doesn't Work." https://disengage.highconflict.net/free-booklet

Join our mailing list: https://disengage.highconflict.net/emails

Disengage and Thrive: One Email at a Time

In this episode of the High Conflict Co-parenting podcast, Brooke Olsen and Bryan Power discuss how breakups can serve as catalysts for personal growth and healthier relationships. They delve into attachment theory, exploring how different attachment styles impact relationships and parenting. Bryan shares his personal journey through a challenging breakup and the insights he gained about attachment styles, emotional safety, and the importance of self-reflection. The conversation emphasizes the significance of understanding one's own attachment style, the role of communication and boundaries in relationships, and the transformative power of doing the work necessary for healing and growth. Bryan introduces the six pillars of integrated attachment theory, providing listeners with practical tools to foster healthier relationships and create a secure environment for their children. Ultimately, the episode encourages listeners to embrace breakups as opportunities for self-discovery and improvement, highlighting that knowledge becomes powerful only when applied in real life.

If you're ready for structure instead of chaos,

go to https://disengage.highconflict.net/next-step

and take the next step. We’ll guide you from there.

For classes or one on one consults with Brook please visit our  website to register. https://www.highconflict.net/

Free High Conflict Diversion Program Booklet: "When Co-Parenting Doesn't Work." https://disengage.highconflict.net/free-booklet

Join our mailing list: https://disengage.highconflict.net/emails

Disengage and Thrive: One Email at a Time

Summary

In this episode of the High Conflict Co-parenting Podcast, host Brooke Olsen speaks with Dr. Alissa Jerud about her book, Emotion Savvy Parenting. They discuss the importance of emotional regulation for parents, the role of somatic awareness, and the need for connection with children. Dr. Jerud introduces her ART framework (Acceptance, Regulation, Tolerance) and the CARE skills for managing intense emotions. The conversation emphasizes the significance of mindfulness and awareness in parenting, especially in high-conflict situations, and how these skills can foster resilience in children.

If you're ready for structure instead of chaos,

go to https://disengage.highconflict.net/next-step

and take the next step. We’ll guide you from there.

For classes or one on one consults with Brook please visit our  website to register. https://www.highconflict.net/

Free High Conflict Diversion Program Booklet: "When Co-Parenting Doesn't Work." https://disengage.highconflict.net/free-booklet

Join our mailing list: https://disengage.highconflict.net/emails

Disengage and Thrive: One Email at a Time