56. When Family Conflict Affects Your Kids | Emotional Regulation with Matthew Murphy

Divorce, child custody disputes, and high-conflict family transitions can create emotional pressure that affects every person in the household… especially children. In this episode of Legal Lounge, Theresa sits down with therapist Matthew Murphy to talk about what children may be absorbing during family conflict, why emotional regulation matters for both parents and kids, and how therapy can support families navigating difficult legal and relational changes.Matthew Murphy, MS, LCMHC, LCASA, NCC, is an experienced counselor with Egan Counseling & Consulting who works with children, teens, adults, and parents navigating family changes, trauma, anxiety, depression, substance use concerns, behavioral challenges, and difficulty regulating emotions. He uses a person-centered and holistic approach to every client. He has experience supporting families through challenging dynamics, separation and divorce, emotional regulation, reunification, and long-term mental health goals.Connect with Matthew:[email protected] prenuptial agreements to divorce, Modern Legal is here to protect your family at all stages of life. With new offices now open in Waxhaw, Gastonia, and Statesville, you can schedule a consultation with our team today at the location most convenient for you.Resources mentioned:Good Inside by Becky Kennedy3 Ways Parents Can Better Support Their Children Through Divorce and Family Conflict:Regulate yourself before responding to your child. Children often absorb the emotional stress of the adults around them, especially during divorce or conflict. When parents pause, calm their own nervous system, and respond instead of react, they create a safer emotional environment for their child.Give your child space to feel big emotions without making the moment bigger. A child’s anger, silence, or acting out may be a sign that they are overwhelmed, not simply being disrespectful. Parents can help by staying steady, reconnecting first, and addressing consequences later when everyone is calmer.Keep adult conflict away from your child whenever possible. Speaking negatively about a co-parent in front of a child can create loyalty conflicts and make the child feel like a part of them is being criticized too. Children need developmentally appropriate information, not the emotional burden of adult legal disputes.The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution. Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action. Connect with Modern Legal:WebsitePhone: 704-286-6302InstagramLinkedInYouTubeFacebook LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes.