Parenting Through Divorce with Carl Pickhardt

Are you waiting to get divorced until your kids are a little older in the hopes that they’ll handle it better? You may be surprised to hear that kids in early adolescence have MORE of an adjustment to make when parents divorce than at any other age. Whatever your child’s age, parenting through divorce is difficult territory.

Carl Pickhardt PhD is a psychologist in private practice out of Austin, Texas. He has written an impressive 15 books on the subject of parenting as well as columns for the Austin American Statesman, Marriage and Family Living and Psychology Today, just to name a few. Carl has appeared on ABC, NBC, CNN and NPR, and he holds degrees from Harvard and the University of Texas at Austin.

Carl joins Katherine to explain the importance of emotionally reconciling your differences and creating an alliance with your ex-spouse based on common concern for your children. He walks us through the reasons why adolescence is an especially vulnerable age for kids dealing with divorce, offering his advice around keeping the lines of communication open. Listen in for Carl’s insight on providing your kids with clear, consistent messaging as you navigate parenting through divorce.

TOPICS COVERED

The powerful adjustments kids make when their parents divorce

Carl’s take on the first task for divorcing parents

• Emotional reconciliation of differences
• Recommitment to joint parenting

Creating an alliance founded on common concern for your children

The cost of an unreconciled divorce

• Kids caught in loyalty conflicts
• Ongoing pain

Why early adolescence is an especially vulnerable age for kids to deal with divorce

How divorce initiates an increased push for independence in adolescents

Why adolescents need an increased number of salient adult relationships

Carl’s guidance for divorcing parents around spending time with your preteen/teen

• Stop and listen (accessibility)
• Bridge to kid’s emerging interests
• Include friends in visitation

How to maintain constant positive choice points with your adolescent

Carl’s insight on providing kids with clear, consistent messaging

CONNECT WITH CARL PICKHARDT

Carl’s Website

Surviving Your Child’s Adolescence in Psychology Today

RESOURCES

The Everything Parent’s Guide to Children and Divorce  by Carl Pickhardt

Books by Carl Pickhardt

CONNECT WITH KATHERINE MILLER

The Center for Understanding Conflict
Miller Law Group
Katherine on LinkedIn