Season 2, Episode 2: Dr. Brian Mackey on What Your Kid Really Needs in Divorce

In my day job as a collaborative divorce lawyer, one of our most magical tools in our non-violent toolbox is a neutral, skillful, well-trained child psychologist. And Dr. Brian Mackey is the very best.

Brian is a divorced dad, a new-ish step-dad, the owner of a booming child psych practice in NC (3-C Family Services), and an expert in representing children's interests in divorce. He meets with the children of our divorcing families, gathers their needs and interests, analyzes their coping skills and patterns, and then lovingly shares this insight with the parents and lawyers -- all at the same round table. The result is a deeper and clearer understanding for everyone about how the individual kids in any family are doing with the change, and how all the grown-ups can best support them. It's the fucking best.

In this episode, Brian discusses the cultures that shaped his own marriage and divorce, how to love your kids through family change, what he learns from kiddos whose parents are in the process, and the not so secret perks of leaving an unhealthy marriage and co-parenting like a pro.