Description

With the holiday season approaching, Ben and Heather turn their attention to coping with holidays after separation or divorce.  To help them deal with this highly emotive issue, they welcome back to the program Elisabeth Shaw, CEO of Relationships Australia NSW.  Elisabeth is also a clinical and counselling psychologist with a specialty in couple and family therapy with over 25 years experience to share with our listeners.

Topics covered include:

1. Why the holidays almost always seem to cause raised emotions and relationship difficulties.
2. What emotions are most likely to arise when facing your first major holiday without your ex, and how to deal with them.
3. Advice on how to agree on arrangements for children over the holidays.
4. Helping children to deal with their emotions when facing their first holiday with separated parents.
5. Taking kids away for the holidays - how to handle this with your ex.
6. How to avoid feeling anxious and resentful when left alone over a major holiday.
7. Dealing with adult children following separation.

At the end of the show Ben asked both Elisabeth and Heather for their one piece of advice for newly separated couples facing their first Christmas apart.  So make sure you listen to the conclusion of this episode!