Loving Your Children More Than You Hate Each Other: Powerful Tools for Navigating a High-Conflict Divorce

Hate your ex but love your kids? If so, this much-needed guide offers practical tips and strategies to help you manage intense emotions, deal with shame and blame, and create a peaceful, loving environment for your children.

Let’s face it—divorce is tough. In a high-conflict divorce, your ex may attempt to undermine your relationship with your children, blame you for the failed marriage, and be hostile toward you in general. Unfortunately, this negativity can affect your kids, too. You need to break the cycle of rage and conflict now, for their sake. This book can help.

Loving Your Children More Than You Hate Each Other offers powerful skills based in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and values-based parenting to help you both take control of your emotions. You’ll get tools to help you identify cycles of conflict, as well as strategies for breaking these cycles before they get out of hand. You’ll also learn strategies to effectively communicate with one another and your children in a way that is healthy and productive.

If you’re going through a high-conflict divorce, you need real tools to help you manage the pain and anger that can follow. This book will show you the skills you need to go from ex to co-parent, and start rebuilding your—and your child’s—life.

Lauren J. Behrman, PhD, is a clinical psychologist with over thirty-three years in independent practice helping adults, children, and families work through transitions. She has evaluated and treated children and families since 1976 at Schneider Children’s Hospital, Nassau BOCES, and as chief psychologist at the Child Development Center of the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services from 1985-1994. Behrman completed her postdoctoral training in child, adolescent, and family psychoanalytic psychotherapy at the Postgraduate Center for Mental Health in 1990.She has taught and supervised doctoral candidates, was adjunct professor in the graduate psychology departments at Long Island University, Yeshiva University, and New York University. She is a frequent presenter, author, teacher, and trainer for professionals in Basic Collaborative Divorce Practice. Behrman is a founding partner of The Practice Institute and the Center for Advanced Professional Education at University of Redlands in Redlands, CA. She is in independent practice in New York City and Westchester County, NY. You can find Behrman on the web at www.laurenbehrmanphd.com, and can read and subscribe to the authors’ blog and newsletter at www.mydivorcerecovery.com.
 
Jeffrey Zimmerman, PhD, ABPP, is a licensed psychologist with offices in New York City and Westchester County, NY, and Connecticut. He has over thirty-five years of experience working with families and individuals experiencing the stress of separation and divorce. He is coauthor of articles on divorce, as well as two related books: The Co-Parenting Survival Guide and Adult Children of Divorce. Zimmerman received the Distinguished Contribution to the Practice of Psychology Award from the Connecticut Psychological Association for his work with high-conflict families of divorce. He is trained as a mediator, parenting coordinator, and collaborative divorce professional. He is a frequent speaker, trainer, and mentor of other professionals and graduate students. He is also founding partner of The Practice Institute. You can find out more about Zimmerman on the web at www.jeffzimmermanphd.com.