What Parents Get Wrong About Kids and Divorce with Trisha Sanders

You’ve explained the divorce to your child as gently and clearly as you can. So why do they seem to tune you out?

Even children who are bright and articulate may struggle to process divorce through words alone. Licensed clinical social worker Trisha Sanders joins Katherine Miller to explore how children experience divorce, why uncertainty and loss of control can feel overwhelming, and what parents can do to help. Trisha brings nearly two decades of clinical experience and her own perspective as a child of divorce.

They discuss why play can help younger children express difficult emotions, why teenagers may feel both relief and grief, and how to navigate parenting disagreements without putting children in the middle.

Listen for a practical communication technique that helps your child feel heard, even when you don't have all the answers.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why even very verbal young kids can’t work through divorce in wordsHow to mirror and validate your child without criticizing your exWhy making your teen a confidant puts real pressure on themWhat to say when your ex won’t agree to pay for somethingHighlights:

(0:00) Meet Trisha Sanders

(1:29) Why divorce feels traumatic for the whole family

(4:21) How play therapy and sandtray help young kids process

(8:40) Why a “so verbal” six-year-old still can’t process in words

(10:26) How divorce lands for teens and young adults

(12:04) The misstep of treating your older child like a friend