ERP 244: How Being a Child of Divorced Parents Impacts Relationship Health in Adulthood - An Interview With Dr. Angela Cusimano

Angela shares her stance on what divorce does to a child’s development, as well as looking at how a divorce is handled before, during and after can determine how much it impacts a child down the road. She discusses the indicators that childhood divorce has affected someone and how it can manifest. Angela also talks about ways to identify if divorce may be affecting your relationships in adulthood.   Listen, as Angela describes what is a “healthy” relationship and how to determine what is real and what isn’t when it comes to happiness in your relationships. Angela believes you can break free of past unhappy relationships and move forward with clarity to find what you are looking for. How you see yourself isn’t always how others see you, so Angela shares some tips to help you bridge the gap.    (Please listen to the podcast episode or read the transcript to hear explanations, stories, and examples.)   Bio:  Angela Cusimano is a psychologist and personal coach with decades of experience working with kids, families, and trauma survivors. As a way to connect with more people outside of the therapy room, she has started a coaching program for childhood divorce survivors who struggle with self-love, self-sabotage, and difficulties in their partnerships.   She has published two books: one for families going through the divorce process and a book for parents who want to safely raise their teens in the digital age.   In this episode, Dr. Angela Cusimano and Dr. Jessica Higgins discuss:  Angela’s stance on what divorce does to children’s development. Some indicators that childhood divorce has affected a person, like self-sabotage and relationship sabotage. Learning how to identify that divorce may have affected intimacy and relationships in adulthood. How divorce is handled can influence how much children are impacted down the road. What a “healthy” relationship can look like. Happiness in relationships: what is real and what isn’t. Breaking free of a past of unhappy relationships and moving forward with possibility.   Tweetables “We all grow up with this idea of normal.” Angela Cusimano PhD “The first step is making the connection between the present and the past.” Angela Cusimano PhD “The conflict between parents is more psychologically damaging than the divorce itself.” Angela Cusimano PhD “Happy couples do fight.” Angela Cusimano PhD “There are two sides to your story.” Angela Cusimano PhD   Mentioned: Crash Course for Divorce: How to Make a Difficult Road Easier to Navigate by Angela Cusimano PhD Raising Teens in the Digital Age: How to Connect, Understand, and Keep Them Safe, by Angela Cusimano PhD Shifting Criticism Into Connected Communication - a free gift for listeners.   Connect with Angela Cusimano   Visit Angela on the web   Facebook: facebook.com/changethetidecoaching   Instagram: instagram.com/changethetidecoaching   Pinterest: pinterest.com/changethetidecoaching   Email Angela   Angela’s upcoming programs   For a free childhood divorce survivor journal   Connect with Dr. Jessica Higgins:   Facebook: facebook.com/EmpoweredRelationship  Instagram: instagram.com/drjessicahiggins  Podcast: drjessicahiggins.com/podcasts  Pinterest: pinterest.com/EmpowerRelation  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drjessicahiggins  Twitter: @DrJessHiggins  Website: drjessicahiggins.com   Email: [email protected] If you have a topic, you would like me to discuss, please contact me by clicking on the “Ask Dr. Jessica Higgins” button here.  Thank you so much for your interest in improving your relationship.  Also, I would so appreciate your honest rating and review. Please leave a review by clicking here.  Thank you!   If you are interested in developing new skills to overcome relationship challenges, please consider taking the Connected Couple Program or engaging in relationship coaching work with me.