How Not to Screw Up Your Kids in a Divorce with the Divorce Doctor Elizabeth Cohen, PhD | Episode 64

How Not to Screw Up Your Kids During Divorce in ColoradoIn this episode of Divorce at Altitude, Colorado divorce attorney Ryan Kalamaya is joined by “The Divorce Doctor,” Dr. Elizabeth Cohen, a clinical psychologist and divorce recovery expert. Dr. Cohen shares how her own divorce—while raising very young children—shaped her mission to help parents navigate separation without putting kids in the middle. Together, they unpack one of the most common questions in family law: how to tell your children you’re getting divorced and what to say (and not say) as the months and years unfold.Ryan and Dr. Cohen explain why the “divorce talk” is never just one conversation, how kids are wired to love both parents, and why oversharing adult conflict can create anxiety, loyalty binds, and long-term insecurity.Guest InformationDr. Elizabeth Cohen is a clinical psychologist with a PhD in clinical psychology and advanced training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). She specializes in divorce recovery and helps parents reduce conflict, regulate emotions, and protect children from adult stress during separation. She is the author of Light on the Other Side of Divorce: Discovering the New You and hosts The Divorce Doctor podcast.Episode OutlineDr. Cohen’s Path to Divorce Work How personal experience and clinical training led her to focus on divorce recovery.The “Divorce Talk” Isn’t One Conversation Why kids keep revisiting divorce questions over time—and how parents can prepare.How to Tell the Kids You’re Divorcing What matters more than a perfect script: creating a stable, supportive container.How Much Is Too Much to Share Why adult anger belongs with professionals and trusted adults, not children.Why Kids Defend the Other Parent How children are biologically wired to attach to both parents—even in conflict.Regulating Anger Without Spilling It on Kids Body-based strategies to discharge stress before it becomes reactive parenting.Modeling Healthy Relationships After Divorce How your behavior teaches kids emotional regulation and long-term resilience.CBT Basics for Divorce Stress How thoughts and behaviors can intensify conflict—and how to shift them.Co-Parent Communication and the “Pause” Why waiting before responding can reduce fights and protect children.What is Divorce at Altitude? Ryan Kalamaya and Amy Goscha provide tips and recommendations on issues related to divorce, separation, and co-parenting in Colorado. Ryan and Amy are the founding partners of an innovative and ambitious law firm, Kalamaya | Goscha, that pushes the boundaries to discover new frontiers in family law, personal injuries, and criminal defense in Colorado. To subscribe to Divorce at Altitude, click here and select your favorite podcast player. To subscribe to Kalamaya | Goscha's YouTube channel where many of the episodes will be posted as videos, click here.  If you have additional questions or would like to speak to one of our attorneys, give us a call at 970-429-5784 or email us at [email protected].************************************************************************DISCLAIMER: THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS ON THIS PODCAST IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL ADVICE. CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE OR AREA TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE ON ANY OF THESE ISSUES.