Ep 157: “High-Conflict” Divorce and Special Needs Kids: What Every Protective Parent Should Know with guest Dr. Susan Bernstein

Navigating a high-conflict divorce is overwhelming on its own — but when you're also raising a child with special needs? The legal, emotional, and logistical challenges multiply.In this important conversation, Sybil sits down with Dr. Susan Bernstein, a Certified Divorce Coach and expert in high-conflict divorce involving children with special needs. Drawing from her experience as both a professional and a mother of a child with severe special needs, Susan shares critical insights, concrete strategies, and the systemic gaps families must prepare for.Whether you're in the thick of a custody battle, advocating for services, or worried about long-term care and planning — this episode will offer clarity, hope, and tangible next steps.What You’ll Learn:Why the divorce rate is significantly higher for parents of children with special needsHow high-conflict personalities often resist diagnosis or care for their child — and what that means for legal decision-makingThe long-term financial, medical, and educational planning you must include in your parenting planHow to structure a tiered parenting plan with clear benchmarks and consequencesThe importance of documenting behaviors instead of using psychological labels in courtWhy many parents of special needs kids don’t get the relief of a countdown to 18 — and what long-term advocacy really looks likeThe surprising “silver lining” of divorce when it comes to planning for a child’s lifelong careConnect w Dr. Susan:G: https://www.instagram.com/divorcecoach__plus/FB: https://www.facebook.com/SusanKBernsteincdcLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-susan-bernstein-new-york-s-premier-divorce-coach-5aa32510/https://www.divorcecoachplus.com/https://divorcewithspecialneedschildren.com/Please leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people.If you want to chat more about this topic, I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpcIf you want to support the show, you may do so here at Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community.If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/Wondering where to start? Check out our top free resources - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/resources.htmlIf you're interested in guesting on the show, please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7Where to find more from Rising Beyond:Rising Beyond FacebookRising Beyond LinkedInRising Beyond Pinterest