You’ve probably heard horror stories from friends and acquaintances who’ve had expensive, ugly divorces, right? Maybe you’ve also heard from some who feel better about the process because they didn’t go the slash-and-burn route, but used divorce mediation instead. Divorce mediation is a process in which a neutral third person,…
Illinois Divorce Lawyer Blog
Parental Alienation: Survivors not Victims
I received a letter from Chrissy, who founded Survivors not Victims of PAS. I asked for her permission to reprint her letter to me. It’s a very insightful and heartfelt account of PAS, and its impact on a young woman. Oh thank you Michael. Yes, I would be happy for…
Illinois Collaborative and Cooperative Divorce
I receive a fair numer of calls from individuals looking for a lower cost, lower stress means of pursuing their divorce. Some people report that they want mediation, and describe for me what sounds like Collaborative or Cooperative divorce, and vice versa. Despite the sometimes confusion, one point is clear:…
A Parental Alienation Victim now speaks as an Adult
Counseling during the Divorce Process
Of my clients that smartly utilize the collaborative or cooperative model of divorce (ie low conflict) I usually don’t see a need for therapy or transition counseling during a divorce. Some of my clients do benefit, however, from contact with an experienced therpaist skilled in divorce, family conflict, and co-parenting…
Parental Alienation: Video Discussion
I and others are doing some research into the phenomenon of parental alienation, and the onset of PAS in children as a result of a campaign of denigration and alienation by one parent against the ” target=”_ parent. I found a video program below that you might find interesting. …
Parental Alienation Discussed
As many of my cases deal with possible BPD and NPD-type disorders, I see traits of Parental Alienation Syndrome in alienating parents. These cases are very challenging…in part because there are kids being harmed by the alienation and by the pathology directed at them on a daily basis by the…
5 Common Financial Mistakes in Divorce
1. Hanging onto the house at all costs. Many couples scrambling to obtain a divorce settlement wish to keep the house at any cost. However, keeping the four bedroom marital home may be a financial undertaking that neithe rparty can absorb in the post-divorce environment. Maintenance and child support to…
Isolation: Living with a Borderline Personality Partner
BPD is a devastating disorder-both for the person who has it and their family members. Partners often find themselves becoming isolated, losing both family and friends to the craziness and jealousy that sometimes comes with living with a BP partner. The Effects of Isolation Isolation is an extremely powerful weapon.…
DuPage Divorce Cases and Internet Parenting Classes
Technology has improved many aspects of divorce practice and helping families adjust to parenting in two separate households. One example that I think of immediately is the use of ‘virtual visitation,” that is, using high speed internet connections to permit video and audio contact with low conflict parents not able…