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By Darlene Lancer, JD, LMFT Relationships offer a path to heal our trauma through divine alchemy. Alchemy is the ancient mystical art of transmuting base metals into gold, and is a metaphor for intimate relationships. Divine alchemy refers to the transformation of...
By Terry Gaspard, MSW, LICSW While a second (or third) marriage can be exhilarating and seen as a second chance at happiness, it’s important to prepare for the challenges if you want to be successful. Blending children and/or family members coming from two different...
Terry Gaspard MSW, LICSW One of the frequent questions that divorced clients ask me is “What is the right time to introduce my new love interest to my child after my divorce? First of all, I would take it slow when dating after divorce and not introduce your love...
By Terry Gaspard, MSW, LICSW While every relationship is unique, clients often ask me to explain the qualities that make a relationship last. My response is usually that it’s defined by admiration and friendship. To admire someone means that you approve of the way...
By Terry Gaspard, LICSW Sitting on the couch in my office, Alicia looks pensive as she says, “I grew up feeling ashamed of my parents’ divorce and somehow believed I caused it because I wasn’t a good enough kid. Plus, my mom would often tell me that I reminded her of...
By Terry Gaspard, LICSW Suzanne, 35, sat on the couch in my office and described her fear of being left by her partner, Devon, age 38. Although they’ve been together for five years (and lived together four years) she continues to feel insecure in their relationship....
By Terry Gaspard, LICSW In the beginning of their relationship, Kate, 42, and Evan, 44, were so elated to have discovered each other that they focused more on their similarities than differences. They fell wildly in love, got married quickly, and never discussed their...
What can you do to rescue your marriage when it’s on the brink of divorce? While this is a complex question that doesn’t lend itself to a quick answer, there are aspects of successful and lasting relationships that can help you get back on track.
By Terry Gaspard, LICSW Jenna, 35, sat on the couch in my office and lamented about her toxic relationship with Trevor, 36, her boyfriend for over five years. She described his treatment as condescending and critical, the top two signs of an unhealthy relationship...
By Terry Gaspard, LICSW Couples argue. This is a given. And yet some parents escalate to destructive levels of conflict that can be damaging to their kids. In a perfect world parents wouldn’t disagree in front of their children. But in the real world it happens every...
Daughters of Divorce
Chapter Excerpts
