About this course

Learning Objectives

• identify 5 keys for making a Parenting Marriage work.
• contrast 5 differences between a Parenting Marriage and Traditional Marriage.
• discuss 10 reasons why couples are choosing to stay together for the kids rather than divorce.
• demonstrate how to introduce clients who are contemplating divorce to the option of maintaining a platonic relationship instead of getting a divorce.
• list 3 kinds of couples who might bring emotional harm to children by staying together rather than divorcing.

Learning Levels

• Intermediate, all levels welcome

Target Audience

Course Instructor(s)

• 

  Susan Pease Gadoua, LCSW

  Psychotherapist & Best-selling Author

  Susan Pease Gadoua is a licensed therapist based in the San Francisco Bay Area specializing in helping clients navigate the challenges of marriage, divorce and co-parenting.

  Susan is the author of the San Francisco Chronicle best-seller, Contemplating Divorce, and The Parenting Marriage Workbook. She co-authored, The New I Do. Susan has appeared in numerous media outlets as a marriage/divorce expert and has trained therapists world-wide on the Parenting Marriage model.

  She lives in California with her husband, dogs and goats.

Disclosure

References

• Anderer, J. (2020). Loveless Marriage: Nearly Half of Parents Only Stay Together for the Kids. StudyFinds.org. https://www.studyfinds.org/loveless-marriage-half-parents-stay-together-for-kids/
• Çaksen H. (2022). The effects of parental divorce on children. Psychiatrike = Psychiatriki, 33(1), 81–82. https://doi.org/10.22365/jpsych.2021.040
• Gadoua, S. P. (2018). Parenting Marriage Workbook. Bijoux Books, Workbook edition. ParentingMarriage.com
• Markham, L. (2018). Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids Workbook: Using Mindfulness and Connection to Raise Resilient, Joyful Children and Rediscover Your Love of Parenting. PESI Publishing & Media; Workbook edition.
• Meland, E., Breidablik, H. J., & Thuen, F. (2020). Divorce and conversational difficulties with parents: Impact on adolescent health and self-esteem. Scandinavian journal of public health, 48(7), 743–751. https://doi.org/10.1177/1403494819888044
• Nembhard, E. (2021). Co-Parenting Without Conflict Skills Workshop: A Training Guide for Practitioners to Facilitate Conflict Resolution Skills as an Intervention. Self-published, Kindle edition.
• Parker, W. (2020). Should You Stay Together for the Kids? VeryWellFamily.com. https://www.verywellfamily.com/should-you-stay-together-for-kids-1270800
• Regoli, N. (2019). 18 Pros and Cons of Staying Together for the Kids. https://connectusfund.org/18-pros-and-cons-of-staying-together-for-the-kids
• Salimi, C., Kachooei, M., Dadashi, M., & Farahani, H. (2024). Effects of integrative behavioral couple therapy on communication patterns and marital adjustment. Journal of education and health promotion, 13, 276. https://doi.org/10.4103/jehp.jehp_201_23
• Spremo M. (2020). Children and Divorce. Psychiatria Danubina, 32(Suppl 3), 353–359.
• Steinbach A. (2019). Children's and Parents' Well-Being in Joint Physical Custody: A Literature Review. Family process, 58(2), 353–369. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12372
• van Dijk, R., van der Valk, I. E., Deković, M., & Branje, S. (2022). Triangulation and child adjustment after parental divorce: Underlying mechanisms and risk factors. Journal of family psychology : JFP : journal of the Division of Family Psychology of the American Psychological Association (Division 43), 36(7), 1117–1131. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0001008
• Wolchik, S. A., Tein, J. Y., Rhodes, C. A., Sandler, I. N., Luecken, L. J., & Porter, M. M. (2024). Cascade effects of a parenting-focused program for divorced families on three health-related outcomes in emerging adulthood. Development and psychopathology, 1–17. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579424000889