Beyond Divorce: Embracing Change

Brighter Possibilities Family Counseling
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Welcome to the Beyond Divorce: Embracing Change podcast! We are actual therapists helping clients who sit on our couches every day through their difficulties of divorce. Whether you're contemplating separation, in a divorce, or looking for support post-divorce, our episodes provide expert guidance, stories, and strategies to help you through every step of the process.

  1. Narcissist or Not? Understanding Personality Disorders in Divorce

    3D AGO

    Narcissist or Not? Understanding Personality Disorders in Divorce

    In this episode, Michael Flores, LPC-S, is joined by Dr. Kalima Charway, Ph.D., L.S.S.P., L.P., to unpack one of the most common claims heard in therapy and divorce conversations: “My ex is a narcissist.” Dr. Charway, who conducts court-ordered psychological evaluations, explains why personality disorders are actually rare, affecting only a small percentage of the population, and why diagnosing them requires far more than noticing a few difficult traits. Together, they explore what clinicians really look for—patterns like lack of empathy, a strong need for admiration, and grandiosity—while emphasizing that people exist on a spectrum and may show behaviors without meeting full diagnostic criteria. They also discuss why consistent, pervasive patterns across time and relationships matter in a real diagnosis, how personality disorders may develop, and what parents can do if they’re worried about this dynamic affecting their child. Rather than focusing on labels, Michael and Dr. Charway share practical ways to protect your child’s well-being: creating stability in your home, keeping communication open and age-appropriate, and focusing on what’s actually within your control. This episode brings clarity, nuance, and practical guidance to a topic that’s can bring about many questions. If this episode helped you think differently about this topic, please rate and review the podcast so more families can find this support.

    37 min
  2. If Kids Could Talk: What Divorce Feels Like From the Inside

    FEB 10

    If Kids Could Talk: What Divorce Feels Like From the Inside

    Divorce doesn’t just change family structure—it changes how children experience safety, loyalty, and emotional connection with both parents. In this episode, Michael Flores, LPC-S, Jinohn Marr, LMFT, and Armando Martinez, LPC explore divorce from the child’s point of view, helping parents understand what kids often feel but struggle to say. They discuss how a mother’s fear and anxiety can unintentionally become a child’s burden, how a father’s pain or frustration can lead kids to feel caught between parents, and how children experience the co-parenting relationship itself—often more deeply than adults realize. This conversation invites parents to shift from focusing on intent to understanding impact, and to reflect on how their words, emotions, and co-parenting dynamics shape their child’s inner world. 🎧 This episode is for parents who want to reduce anxiety, protect their child’s emotional safety, and create space for kids to love both parents freely. ⭐ If this episode was meaningful, please consider leaving a rating and review to help other parents find this conversation when they need it.

    37 min
  3. For Divorced Dads: Redefining Your Role and Responding to Fear After Divorce

    FEB 3

    For Divorced Dads: Redefining Your Role and Responding to Fear After Divorce

    Divorce can leave dads questioning their role, their influence, and their place in their children’s lives. In this episode, Michael Flores, LPC-S, and Armando Martinez, LPC speak directly to the fears and frustrations many divorced dads experience during and after divorce. They explore the identity shift from married dad to single dad, common complaints and fears dads carry, and how fear often shows up as defensiveness, withdrawal, or rigidity. Michael and Armando also discuss practical ways dads can respond with clarity and steadiness—helping them stay engaged, build trust with their kids, and reduce unnecessary conflict. This episode references Episode 32: Trust Issues? The Trust Formula Explained for listeners who want a deeper understanding of how trust is built and repaired in co-parenting relationships. 👉 https://shows.async.com/beyond-divorce-embracing-change-eKisiArX/trust-issues-the-trust-formula-explained-8vdTz43a 🎓 Countering Alienation Course Registration is open for Countering Alienation, a course designed to help parents understand alienation dynamics and respond with clarity, consistency, and strategy—without escalating conflict. 👉 https://www.beyonddivorcecourses.com/offers/LoSnQoUH/checkout ⭐ If this episode was helpful, please consider leaving a rating and review. Your feedback helps other parents find support when they need it most.

    31 min
  4. For Divorced Moms: Letting Go of Control When Your Kids Aren’t With You

    JAN 27

    For Divorced Moms: Letting Go of Control When Your Kids Aren’t With You

    When your kids are with their other parent, it can bring up anxiety, fear, and a sense of loss—especially for moms who have carried the emotional weight of parenting. In this episode, Michael Flores, LPC, and Jinohn Marr, LMFT explore why letting go feels so hard and how control often grows out of fear, not failure. Together, they discuss how control shows up during co-parenting, how kids experience it, and what actually helps moms stay connected without hovering or abandoning their role. Michael and Jinohn also remind listeners that high-conflict situations require strategy, structure, and support—not blame or shame. This episode offers reassurance, practical insight, and a reminder that you can support your child even when you’re not the one parenting in the moment. 💛 If this episode resonated, please share it with another mom who might need it. 🎓 To learn more about protecting your relationship with your child and responding effectively to alienation dynamics, explore Countering Alienation, our course designed to help parents move forward with clarity and confidence here: https://www.beyonddivorcecourses.com/offers/LoSnQoUH/checkout

    36 min

  5. JAN 21

    Choosing Fit Over Fear: How to Make Therapy Work for You

    In this episode, Michael Flores, LPC-S, and Arrianna Cervantes, LPC-Associate, explore a question many people quietly carry: “Will therapy actually work for me?” Whether you’ve had a disappointing experience in the past or you’re unsure how counseling is supposed to help, this conversation invites listeners to shift from fear-based expectations to a fit-based mindset. Michael and Arrianna discuss how therapy isn’t about performing, pleasing the therapist, or saying the “right” things—it’s about showing up as you are and engaging honestly with the process. They walk through key questions clients can ask themselves before and during counseling, such as identifying your hopes for therapy and reflecting on whether you’re being fully honest so your therapist can truly help you. The conversation also highlights the importance of being an informed consumer of therapy—encouraging clients to ask therapists about their therapeutic approach, what sessions typically look like, and the types of clients they most often work with. Finding the right fit means choosing a therapist and setting where you feel safe enough to be real, supported enough to stay engaged, and challenged enough to grow—without shame. Michael and Arrianna also address therapy in more complex situations, including court-ordered counseling and counseling while in litigation. They emphasize that therapy is meant to feel a little uncomfortable at times and that real progress comes from showing up with your genuine thoughts, concerns, and openness to the process. When clients stop trying to do therapy “the right way” and instead do it their way, therapy becomes far more effective and meaningful. If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to rate and review the podcast. Your reviews help others find the show and support conversations that make therapy feel more accessible and human.

    35 min

  6. JAN 13

    Who Are You Gonna Call? CPS?

    In this episode, Michael Flores, LPC-S, and Jinohn Marr, LMFT, break down the often misunderstood role of CPS (Child Protective Services, as it’s called in Texas) and how it intersects with family court and the therapeutic process. They explain what CPS is, when and how it becomes involved in family law cases, and the role it may play alongside therapists when concerns about a child’s safety arise. Michael and Jinohn walk through the primary categories CPS evaluates, including physical neglect, medical neglect, physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, abandonment, and neglectful supervision, helping parents better understand what these terms actually mean in practice. They discuss when it is appropriate to contact CPS—specifically when a child is in imminent or immediate danger—and why that threshold matters. When concerns do not rise to that level, Michael and Jinohn explain why attempting to discuss concerns with the other parent can be an important and necessary first step, even though many parents understandably feel hesitant or afraid to do so. They explore how children’s stories can become exaggerated or minimized when they are caught between parents, and how the way adults ask questions can unintentionally influence or shape a child’s account. Jinohn also shares how CPS and therapists can work together to support a child’s safety, emotional well-being, and overall stability when a report is made. This episode offers clarity, education, and guidance for parents navigating fear, uncertainty, and high-stakes decisions involving their children. To enroll in 'Countering Alienation' and start improving your relationship with your child and have more productive conversations with your co-parent, click here: https://www.beyonddivorcecourses.com/offers/LoSnQoUH/checkout Leave us a review! Rate the podcast! Share this episode with someone who might need it! Thank you for supporting us and thank you for being here!

    37 min

  7. JAN 6

    I Am Worthy: Self-Care Through Divorce

    As we enter a new year, Arrianna Cervantes, LPC-Associate, and Jennifer Blake, LCSW-S, remind us how essential self-care is during divorce—and how this season can also be an opportunity to build the habits that help you become the person you want to be. Jennifer begins by highlighting the physical foundations of wellness, including nourishing your body with food that supports you, incorporating movement, and protecting your sleep so your mind and emotions have space to recover. She then moves into the emotional side of self-care: allowing yourself to feel your feelings, using your time intentionally to create moments that are just for you, and taking the time to re-learn who you are outside of the relationship. Jennifer and Arrianna also explore the importance of reconnecting with old hobbies you once enjoyed and giving yourself permission to discover new activities that bring joy, grounding, or creativity. They discuss how essential community is during this transition—finding people and places where you feel supported, understood, and encouraged as you rebuild your life. Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish; it is the foundation for healing and becoming whole again. If you’re navigating a high-conflict separation, our Countering Alienation course gives you the guidance and tools to protect your relationship with your child and stay connected through the hardest moments. Register here: https://www.beyonddivorcecourses.com/offers/LoSnQoUH/checkout If this episode resonated with you, please leave a review for the podcast—it helps others find the support and encouragement they need.

    37 min

  8. 12/16/2025

    Why Does My Child Fall Apart After Visits with Their Other Parent?

    In this episode, Jinohn Marr, LMFT, and Armando Martinez, LPC, take over to discuss a topic many parents struggle with: why children often fall apart after transitioning back from the other parent’s home. They explain that these transitions can be emotionally demanding because children are shifting back into a different set of expectations, routines, and emotional needs. Armando reminds us that this adjustment period is normal, and Jinohn describes how it can look different across ages—whether younger kids become clingy, tearful, or overwhelmed, or older kids show sadness, irritability, boundary-testing, or withdrawal. They emphasize that it’s completely typical for children to need time to settle back in as they re-regulate and reconnect with the rhythm of your home. Jinohn and Armando share practical ways to support smoother transitions, including keeping boundaries and expectations as similar as possible between households, offering a snack to help stabilize mood and energy, and allowing space for a simple, relaxed environment rather than jumping into a full, busy schedule. These small adjustments help children feel steadier, safer, and more connected during the emotional shift between homes. Taking care of your relationship with your child is especially important during the holiday season. Our Countering Alienation course gives you practical tools to protect and strengthen that bond—even in high-conflict situations. Register here: https://www.beyonddivorcecourses.com/offers/LoSnQoUH/checkout If this episode was helpful, please share it with someone—maybe even your co-parent—and leave a rating to help more families find the support they need.

    35 min
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Ratings & Reviews

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8 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Beyond Divorce: Embracing Change podcast! We are actual therapists helping clients who sit on our couches every day through their difficulties of divorce. Whether you're contemplating separation, in a divorce, or looking for support post-divorce, our episodes provide expert guidance, stories, and strategies to help you through every step of the process.

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