Welcome to the Other Side

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.

In this episode, Meg Gluckman sits down with therapist, child specialist, and author Kristin Little to explore how to support teenagers through their parents' divorce. Kristin shares her unique approach as a child specialist in the Collaborative divorce process, offering practical guidance on communication, boundaries, and helping teens navigate this major life transition.

Kristin Little is a therapist, child specialist, and writer based in Seattle. She co-authored The Co-Parenting Handbook with Karen Bonnell and has been working as a child specialist in collaborative divorce since 2009. She also wrote No More Us, a book for people navigating the early stages of an unwanted divorce.

Website: KristinLittleCounseling.com

• The child specialist role – How Kristin brings children's voices into the collaborative divorce process through her "Classic 1-2-3" approach: meeting with parents, then children individually, then sharing feedback

• How teens differ from younger children – Teens have already built their own world and may feel frustrated that parents are disrupting their stability; they want independence while also craving explanations

• The information dilemma – Why parents should protect teens from adult information even when they insist they can handle it, and how to be transparent about why you're not sharing everything

• Creating a shared narrative – The importance of parents crafting an agreed-upon explanation that validates children's experience without encouraging them to take sides

• Supporting big emotions and repair – Validating teens' feelings as appropriate responses to major change, and the power of owning mistakes rather than trying to be perfect

Books Mentioned:

• The Co-Parenting Handbook by Karen Bonnell and Kristin Little
• The Stepfamily Handbook by Karen Bonnell
• No More Us by Kristin Little (for those navigating an unwanted divorce)
• Untangled and The Emotional Lives of Teenagers by Lisa Damour
• Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain by Dan Siegel (the "red book" for teen development)
• Smart but Scattered Teens by Peg Dawson and Richard Guare

“Grief is something we have and we carry with us, but we can feel everything when we’re grieving.”

Divorce & Co-Parenting Coach Meg Gluckman and Life & Grief Coach Susie Ruth share their personal stories and discuss how grief is more than sadness—it's a mix of emotions that can be honored through ritual, community, and honest expression. Together, we explore practical ways to process grief, especially during divorce and parenting, and encourage allowing yourself to feel, seeking support, and modeling emotional honesty for children.

Resources & Guest Info:

• Learn more about Susie Ruth: susieruth.com
• Instagram: @thegrieftender
• Learn more about Meg’s Divorce & Co-Parenting coaching: meggluckman.com

Create a summer that you love, EVEN IF you are in the middle of a divorce or dealing with a challenging co-parenting relationship!

In this episode, Meg walks you through the 4 parts of creating a Summer Success Plan.

Full episode show notes: https://meggluckman.com/podcast/123

Sign up for a Summer Success Plan Session here.

The ins-and-outs of creating a post-divorce estate plan that takes care of the people & causes that are most important to you.

Full show notes at https://meggluckman.com/podcast/122

I love sharing stories of folks who navigated their divorce & co-parenting in a unique way. Brenda sure did that, always keeping her eye on what she wanted her future to look like.  This week's guest Brenda Rigney shares her story of leaving a corporate career, starting a new business, and navigating divorce, all while raising two kids. 

Full show notes: https://meggluckman.com/podcast/121

After 19 years of working with traditional litigious (court driven process) divorces, attorney Cindy Wysocki now focuses entirely on collaborative divorce and helping families create agreements that work for their unique situations.

Listen in to hear the difference between these two types of divorce, including costs, timeframe, and ability to customize agreements.

Full show notes at https://meggluckman.com/podcast/120

In every divorce, there's a fast hiker and a slow hiker. In mediation or a collaborative divorce process, the goal is to find a pace that works for both people!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://meggluckman.com/podcast/119

Recommendations on how to navigate & celebrate Mother's/Father's Day as a divorced parent with co-parenting coach Mikki Gardner.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://meggluckman.com/podcast/118

Break out your mechanical pencils & unicorn journals! 🦄

It's time to see how journaling can be your secret weapon to navigate the emotional rollercoaster of divorce and co-parenting.

This isn't about perfect grammar or perfect prose that you'd be proud to show your kids in 10 years. This is about clearing your brain so there's space for what you value most.

Our guest this week, journaling pro Amanda Stern, shares an a-la-carte menu for journaling and gives pointers on where to start.

She also tells the story of how her journaling practice transformed her relationship with her mother-in-outlaw (ex mother-in-law) at a crucial time.

Plus, we'll talk about how journaling can help you get better sleep—because who couldn't use a little extra shut-eye during stressful times?

So grab your favorite pen, a cozy spot, and let's learn how to let the page hold worries & stress so that you don't have to. Onward to more ease!

// FULL SHOW NOTES: https://meggluckman.com/podcast/117