Parents beginning the divorce process often ask us for advice on how and when to talk to children about the upcoming changes in their lives. In this video interview, Owner/Lead Attorney Jill Brittle spoke with Lisa Gabardi, PhD, who suggests talking to children together in a neutral area of the home, to send a message that the parents will continue to work together as co-parents for the benefit of the children. Dr. Gabardi notes that a great rule of thumb for how far in advance to share information with your children is based on their age – 2x the child’s age is recommended in advance of a noticeable change (for example, for a 10-year-old, 20 days in advance of a parent moving out). Learn more about what children need out of this conversation in the video below.
For additional information about successful coparenting after a divorce, read our blog post here.
To schedule a consultation with one of our lawyers to discuss an upcoming divorce or separation, call us at 503-445-1575.
More about Dr. Gabardi: website
Dr. Gabardi is a licensed psychologist with over 30 years of experience helping individuals, couples and families with their relationships, marriages, and divorces. Dr. Gabardi maintains a private practice in Lake Oswego, Oregon providing psychotherapy, couples counseling, mediation, divorce consultation, and collaborative divorce coaching.
Contact Dr. Gabardi:
Website: www.gabardi.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lisagabardi/
Twitter: @lisagabardiphd
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lisa-Gabardi-PhD-LLC/
Blog: http://gabardi.com/blog/