What Every Co-Parent Should Know About Gaslighting and Emotional Safety with Dr. Karalynn Royster

In this conversation, Dr. Karalynn Royster discusses her journey into the field of co-parenting and high-conflict divorce, emphasizing the importance of supporting both parents and children through these challenging dynamics. She delves into the concept of gaslighting, its implications in co-parenting, and how parents can recognize and address it. Dr. Royster highlights the significance of emotional validation, self-regulation, and the impact of parental behavior on children's well-being. The discussion also touches on the pressures of perfection in parenting and the importance of seeking support during difficult times.Learn more about Dr. Karalynn Royster at: https://learnwithlittlehouse.com/Listen to Dr. Royster's podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kids-first-co-parenting-with-dr-royster/id1828016840Books mentioned in the episode: Don’t Alienate the Kids! by Bill Eddy: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09QRMGVVTBeen There Got Out by Lisa Johnson and Chris Barry:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CY39L1W7Get the BestInterest Coparenting App: https://bestinterest.app/Subscribe to our newsletter to hear about new episodes and build community: https://bestinterest.app/subscribe-podcast/Watch This Episode: https://youtu.be/skPkMzKqM18Keywordsco-parenting, gaslighting, high-conflict divorce, child psychology, emotional validation, parenting strategies, child developmentTakeawaysDr. Royster's journey into co-parenting support was influenced by her own childhood experiences.Gaslighting undermines a child's reality and can occur even unintentionally by well-meaning parents.Validation of a child's feelings is crucial in helping them navigate their emotions.Co-parents should focus on what they can control, especially their own behavior and responses.Children often need help understanding their emotions and cues from their bodies.Modeling self-regulation as a parent can significantly impact a child's emotional development.It's important for parents to avoid putting children in the middle of conflicts between co-parents.The pressure to be a perfect parent can be overwhelming and is unrealistic.Children may show signs of struggle through changes in behavior, intensity, or frequency of emotional outbursts.Seeking support and not feeling isolated is vital for parents in high-conflict situations.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Co-Parenting Challenges01:26 The Journey into Supporting Co-Parents04:56 Understanding Gaslighting in Parenting09:31 Gaslighting Dynamics in Co-Parenting12:03 Recognizing Alienation in Children16:09 Navigating Loyalty Binds in Co-Parenting20:11 Navigating Co-Parenting Dynamics21:08 Emotional Development in Children23:18 The Gifts of Co-Parenting25:45 The Myth of Perfection in Parenting26:56 Recognizing Signs of Struggle in Children28:57 Self-Regulation Strategies for Children30:43 Responding to Children's Concerns32:51 Empowerment in Co-ParentingWhat if your co-parent’s toxic messages never even reached you? Thousands of parents are already finding peace with the BestInterest Coparenting App. As a listener, you can too. Claim 40% off an annual subscription here: https://bestinterest.app/beyond