In this episode of the Children First Family Law podcast, Krista Nash talks with Dr. Don Gordon, a clinical child psychologist and Executive Director of the Center for Divorce Education. Dr. Gordon shares how his personal experience with high-conflict divorce shaped his mission to help families reduce stress and improve parent-child relationships through evidence-based education.

Their conversation centers around “Children in Between,” a widely used court-mandated parenting program, and its new companion course for kids. Dr. Gordon explains why emotional literacy, stress reduction, and safe communication are critical tools for children during separation and divorce. He also discusses the neuroscience of fight-or-flight responses in parents, how to interrupt reactive behaviors, and why involving kids in conversations about their feelings changes outcomes for life.

Divorce doesn’t have to break a child’s emotional foundation if we give families the tools to manage it with care.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Parents need training for co-parenting under stress, not just general parenting
• Children benefit when they learn how to name, share, and manage emotions
• Divorce stress impacts a child’s long-term relationships and mental health
• Online programs can support families with low-cost, effective tools
• Teaching emotional regulation improves how parents and kids relate
• Kids internalize conflict when they feel caught between two parents
• Loyalty conflicts do more harm than divorce itself
• Involving both parents in emotional coaching gives kids double the support
• When parents model calm responses, kids learn resilience
• Proactive education reduces litigation and emotional fallout

Resources from this Episode

www.childreninbetweenforkids.com

www.childreninbetween.com

online.divorce-education.com

www.childrenfirstfamilylaw.com

All states have different laws; be sure you are checking out your state laws specifically surrounding divorce. Krista is a licensed attorney in Colorado and Wyoming but is not providing through this podcast legal advice. Please be sure to seek independent legal counsel in your area for your specific situation.

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Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

In today’s episode of Children First Family Law, Krista welcomes retired New York Judge, Peggy Walsh, who brings decades of experience from both the Family and Supreme Courts. Judge Walsh unpacks how New York’s family law system centers children’s voices in custody cases and what the rest of the country can learn from it.

Krista and Judge Walsh explore how attorneys for children play an active role in advocating for a child’s stated preferences, even when they differ from best interest arguments. They also compare New York’s court structure with Colorado’s, explore trauma-informed judicial practices, and reflect on how systems either empower or silence young voices. Judge Walsh shares how she approached in-camera interviews with children and how her bench experience now informs her work as a coach for co-parents navigating conflict.

When a child tells their attorney what they want, that’s not just testimony. It’s a window into what makes sense for that child’s life.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Child attorneys in New York reflect what the child wants, not what adults believe is best
• Best interest and expressed interest often overlap, but not always
• New York courts offer every child legal representation at no cost
• Judges rely on in-camera interviews to hear from children directly
• Ethical representation includes guiding children without overriding them
• Professionalism in family court matters more than persuasion
• Trauma-informed courts reduce harm during high-conflict litigation
• Courts trust parents to decide, and judges step in only when needed
• Kids in the middle of conflict often show internal distress
• Co-parenting coaching offers an alternative to repeated litigation

Resources from this Episode

peggywalsh.com

thecoparentcoach.com

www.childrenfirstfamilylaw.com

All states have different laws; be sure you are checking out your state laws specifically surrounding divorce. Krista is a licensed attorney in Colorado and Wyoming but is not providing through this podcast legal advice. Please be sure to seek independent legal counsel in your area for your specific situation.

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

In today’s episode of the Children First Family Law podcast, Krista Nash welcomes Allen Levy, an Anchorage-based mental health professional and parenting educator, for a direct and thoughtful discussion on how to parent after divorce. Allen draws from over two decades of work with high-conflict families to explain why parenting after separation needs to be treated as a job share, not an emotional battleground.

He shares the framework behind his post-separation parenting curriculum, which was developed through years of real-world experience and is now utilized in workshops, therapy sessions, and court-ordered education. This approach teaches parents to focus on four core duties: communication, decision-making, problem-solving, and conflict resolution across key parenting domains like education, healthcare, and family routines.

Through structured rules, concrete strategies, and clear analogies, Allen reframes co-parenting as professional conduct, not emotional entanglement. The result? Less conflict, fewer court battles, and healthier kids.

You don’t need both parents to change. When one parent acts with professionalism, it can shift everything.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Parent-child relationships must come before parent-to-parent conflict
• Parenting is a job with duties, boundaries, and standards
• Effective communication focuses on children, not personal grievances
• Shift changes (custody exchanges) should feel routine and drama-free
• Parallel parenting can work even when co-parenting is unrealistic
• Focus on behaviors, not blame or psychological explanations
• Avoid the trap of sharing emotional information with your ex
• Protect kids from conflict by removing them from the middle
• Redefine success by how well parents manage the job, not how they feel
• One parent can shift the dynamic, even if the other won’t change

Resources from this Episode

www.childrenfirstfamilylaw.com

All states have different laws; be sure you are checking out your state laws specifically surrounding divorce. Krista is a licensed attorney in Colorado and Wyoming but is not providing through this podcast legal advice. Please be sure to seek independent legal counsel in your area for your specific situation.

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

In today’s episode of the Children First Family Law podcast, Krista sits down with Julia Chambers, creator of Mimbleballs, to explore how one quirky, fuzzy tool helps kids—and adults—manage big feelings. What started as a DIY craft with her son became a comfort object now used by therapists, attorneys, first responders, and families across the country.

Julia shares how Mimbleballs provide tactile support, regulate nervous systems, and open emotional pathways during tough transitions like divorce, court appearances, or co-parenting changes. She and Krista also discuss the deeper mission behind the brand, including its work with schools, nonprofits, and professionals helping children feel safe and seen.

Sometimes healing starts with a hug—even from a fuzzy face with googly eyes.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Breaks the ice in court-involved or high-stress settings
• Supports emotional regulation through texture, movement, and play
• Works across ages and developmental stages
• Opens communication when words feel hard
• Helps professionals and parents build trust with children
• Bridges transitions between homes or family systems
• Encourages self-soothing and emotional expression
• Promotes silliness, safety, and connection in difficult moments
• Gives children a reliable source of comfort they can carry with them
• Strengthens co-parenting dynamics through shared emotional tools

Resources from this Episode

www.mimbleball.com (Use code MBLOVE for the website shop for 10% off your entire purchase)

www.childrenfirstfamilylaw.com

All states have different laws; be sure you are checking out your state laws specifically surrounding divorce. Krista is a licensed attorney in Colorado and Wyoming but is not providing through this podcast legal advice. Please be sure to seek independent legal counsel in your area for your specific situation.

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

In today’s episode of the Children First Family Law podcast, Krista Nash welcomes Dr. Ann Ordway, a family law attorney, parenting coordinator, and stepfamily coach. Together, they unpack what it takes to build a healthy blended family, one grounded in patience, emotional awareness, and long-term thinking.

Dr. Ordway shares what works and what fails when families blend too quickly. She draws on her professional expertise and personal experience of raising seven children in a blended family. They explore how children react to transitions, how co-parents can support one another across households, and how step-parents can earn trust instead of expecting it.

This episode gives parents and professionals a roadmap for blending families that prioritizes emotional safety and sets children up to thrive.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Begin stepfamily transitions by acknowledging loss and grief
• Give each child space to adjust at their own pace
• Slow down recoupling to avoid emotional whiplash
• Approach introductions gradually, with clear communication
• Build step-parent relationships through trust, not authority
• Spend one-on-one time to strengthen individual bonds
• Coordinate with co-parents to reduce confusion and fear
• Keep children in familiar spaces when possible
• Treat stepchildren and biological children equitably
• Model respectful relationships between all households

Resources from this Episode

www.afccnet.org/About/Staff/ann

www.stepfamily.org

www.childrenfirstfamilylaw.com

All states have different laws; be sure you are checking out your state laws specifically surrounding divorce. Krista is a licensed attorney in Colorado and Wyoming but is not providing through this podcast legal advice. Please be sure to seek independent legal counsel in your area for your specific situation.

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

In today’s episode of Children First Family Law, Krista welcomes Dr. Marsha Kline Pruett, a clinical psychologist, researcher, and nationally recognized authority on child development, co-parenting, and father involvement. Together, they explore what healthy post-divorce fathering looks like and what professionals and parents can do to foster those relationships.

Dr. Pruett draws on decades of experience working with families in the U.S. and internationally, including groundbreaking work with the California Office of Child Abuse Prevention and long-term studies on parenting partnerships. She discusses how early father involvement impacts long-term child development and why gendered parenting roles still influence family law decisions.

This episode also explores the pitfalls of rigid parenting plans, the pressure of 50/50 custody expectations, and how children process family dynamics differently than adults often assume. Dr. Pruett explains how to build trust between co-parents, why gatekeeping harms both children and relationships, and what attorneys and therapists should stop doing if they genuinely want to serve families well.

This episode challenges assumptions about post-divorce parenting and offers a path forward where fathers stay connected, kids feel secure, and co-parents build trust, one interaction at a time.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Early father involvement as a foundation for long-term connection
• Gatekeeping and how it limits father-child relationships post-divorce
• Flexible parenting plans that reflect a child’s real-world needs
• Emotional safety over rigid time-sharing structures
• One-on-one time is more impactful than group settings
• Building co-parenting trust through consistency and accountability
• Harmful professional dynamics when attorneys mirror client conflict
• Benefits of parallel parenting when co-parenting isn’t possible
• Starting fresh, no matter how long it’s been
• Supporting fathers without undermining maternal relationships

Resources from this Episode

marshapruett.com

Book: Partnership Parenting: How Men and Women Parent Differently-Why It Helps Your Kids and Can Strengthen Your Marriage: www.amazon.com/Partnership-Parenting-Differently-Why-Strengthen-Marriage/dp/0738213268

Book: Your Divorce Advisor: www.amazon.com/Your-Divorce-Advisor-Psychologist-Emotional/dp/0684870681

www.childrenfirstfamilylaw.com

All states have different laws; be sure you are checking out your state laws specifically surrounding divorce. Krista is a licensed attorney in Colorado and Wyoming but is not providing through this podcast legal advice. Please be sure to seek independent legal counsel in your area for your specific situation.

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

In today’s episode of Children First Family Law, Krista explores one of the most high-conflict areas in Colorado family law: relocation after divorce or custody orders. When one parent wants to relocate, whether within or outside the state, courts must decide what serves the child’s best interest, not the parent’s.

Krista walks through how Colorado handles relocation under C.R.S. §14-10-129, explains the difference between a parent's right to move and the right to move with a child, and addresses a common fear: Is it kidnapping to move without permission? She illustrates these issues with real-world case studies, one in which a parent left without notice, and another in which a parent followed every step legally.

This solo episode covers the legal process, emotional impact, court standards, and how to keep children at the center of difficult relocation decisions. It’s a must-listen for any parent facing—or fearing—a move.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Relocation means any move that significantly disrupts an existing parenting plan, not just moves across state lines
• Parents retain the right to relocate, but not the automatic right to move a child with them
• Colorado requires written notice, a proposed new parenting plan, and court approval under C.R.S. §14-10-129
• Unauthorized relocation can result in contempt charges or emergency return orders, even without criminal charges
• Courts assess each relocation under the best interests of the child per C.R.S. §14-10-124
• Long-distance parenting creates added costs and challenges—judges often assign travel costs to the relocating parent under C.R.S. §14-10-115(11)
• Emotional losses for children include missing friends, schools, and a parent’s daily presence
• Real case examples show why courts value transparency, cooperation, and early communication
• Key case law includes Spahmer v. Gullette, Ciesluk v. Ciesluk, In re Marriage of Martin, and DeZalia v. DeZalia

Resources from this Episode

Relocation statute: C.R.S. 14-10-129: codes.findlaw.com/co/title-14-domestic-matters/co-rev-st-sect-14-10-129

Best interests of the child: C.R.S. 14-10-124: codes.findlaw.com/co/title-14-domestic-matters/co-rev-st-sect-14-10-124

Payment issues: C.R.S. 14-10-115(11), scroll way down to find (11): codes.findlaw.com/co/title-14-domestic-matters/co-rev-st-sect-14-10-115

Key Colorado caselaw around relocation:

In re Marriage of Ciesluk: law.justia.com/cases/colorado/supreme-court/2005/04sc555-0.html

Spahmer v. Gullette: law.justia.com/cases/colorado/supreme-court/2005/03sc751-0.html

In re Marriage of Martin: callidusai.com/wp/ai/cases/2639358/in-re-the-marriage-of-martin

In re Marriage of DeZalia: callidusai.com/wp/ai/cases/2638291/marriage-of-dezalia-v-dezalia

www.childrenfirstfamilylaw.com

All states have different laws; be sure you are checking out your state laws specifically surrounding divorce. Krista is a licensed attorney in Colorado and Wyoming but is not providing through this podcast legal advice. Please be sure to seek independent legal counsel in your area for your specific situation.

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

In today’s episode of the Children First Family Law podcast, Krista is joined by Dr. Susan Fletcher, a licensed psychologist in both Texas and Colorado, known for her deep experience with court-involved families and child-focused evaluations. Together, they explore what children truly experience during and after a divorce and how parents and professionals can better support their transition to life in two homes.

Dr. Fletcher explains how children internalize language like “custody” and “visitation” and offers practical suggestions for reframing these terms in ways that support emotional resilience. She stresses the importance of maintaining consistency, recognizing a child's individual vulnerabilities, and reframing transitions as opportunities rather than losses. The conversation covers early intervention, therapist involvement, and the crucial role of in-home observations for professionals working with families post-divorce.

This episode also addresses why mental health providers may resist testifying in court, how board complaints create fear, and what professionals can do to better navigate the intersection of clinical care and legal involvement. Dr. Fletcher shares real-world experiences from both therapy and evaluations, bringing clarity to a complex and emotionally charged aspect of family law.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Children often absorb adult terminology like “custody” and “visitation” in ways that affect their sense of identity
• Simple language changes and reframes can support emotional safety during transitions
• Some kids adapt easily to two homes, while others need more structured emotional support
• In-home observations provide professionals with a clearer context for how children experience post-divorce life
• Fear of licensing complaints can prevent therapists from staying involved in court cases, even when their voices matter
• Parents can remain emotionally available without overwhelming their children
• Creating a strong support system helps families and professionals navigate ongoing changes
• Shifting focus from fear-based reactions to hopeful engagement promotes healthier outcomes

Resources from this Episode

www.fletcherphd.com

www.childrenfirstfamilylaw.com

All states have different laws; be sure you are checking out your state laws specifically surrounding divorce. Krista is a licensed attorney in Colorado and Wyoming but is not providing through this podcast legal advice. Please be sure to seek independent legal counsel in your area for your specific situation.

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.