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The Avoidance Trap: Managing Divorce Emotions with Dr. Michelle Maidenberg • How to Split a Toaster • Season 11 • Episode 9

The Avoidance Trap: Managing Divorce Emotions with Dr. Michelle Maidenberg

Navigating Emotional Avoidance in Divorce

In this illuminating episode of How to Split a Toaster, family law attorney Seth Nelson and Pete Wright explore emotional avoidance during divorce with expert guest Dr. Michelle Maidenberg, a specialist in mindfulness and emotional resilience.

Understanding Values in Conflict

Dr. Maidenberg explains how our core values shape divorce decisions and reactions. Values aren’t just what we claim to prioritize—they reveal themselves through our actions and emotional triggers. When two values conflict, such as financial security versus family time, the resulting tension often drives divorce disputes.

Breaking Down Emotional Avoidance

The conversation delves into how emotional avoidance manifests during divorce proceedings. Dr. Maidenberg describes various avoidance tactics people employ, from repression to distraction, while explaining how these coping mechanisms can ultimately hinder healing and resolution.

Practical Tools for Emotional Regulation

Dr. Maidenberg introduces therapeutic approaches including EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) for managing divorce-related trauma and anxiety. She emphasizes the importance of finding the right therapeutic relationship and approach for individual needs.

Key Insights:

  • Identify conflicting core values to better understand emotional reactions during divorce
  • Set appropriate boundaries around communication to maintain emotional stability
  • Work with qualified professionals to develop personalized coping strategies

The Role of Professional Support

The episode highlights how legal counsel and mental health professionals can work together to support clients through divorce. Seth Nelson shares practical strategies for managing difficult communications, while Dr. Maidenberg offers therapeutic perspectives on processing divorce-related emotions.

Plus, the conversation explores how different therapeutic modalities—from CBT to mindfulness-based approaches—can help individuals navigate divorce’s emotional challenges while staying true to their values.

This episode provides valuable insights for anyone seeking to better understand and manage their emotional responses during divorce, while offering practical tools for maintaining stability throughout the legal process.

Links & Notes

Seth Nelson is a Tampa based family lawyer known for devising creative solutions to difficult problems. In How to Split a Toaster, Nelson and co-host Pete Wright take on the challenge of divorce with a central objective — saving your most important relationships with your family, your former spouse, and yourself.
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