The Forgotten Victims of Gray Divorce: The Effects on Adult Children with Therapists and Authors, Carol Hughes and Bruce Fredenburg #188

In this episode, Susan Guthrie speaks with Therapists, Carol Hughes and Bruce Fredenburg, authors of "Home Will Never Be the Same Again: A Guide for Adult Children of Gray Divorce," about the effects of parental divorce on adult children, and how the negative repurcussions can be minimized. It is no secret that gray divorce is on the rise world-wide.  In fact, divorce among those who have been married for 30 years or more or who are divorcing later in life, is one of the largest segments of those who are divorcing today.  Much has been written about the unique difficulties faced by those who divorce close to or during retirement and after long-term marriages, but there is a forgotten segment of people who are deeply impacted by the divorce - the adult children whose parents are going through a gray divorce. Carol Hughes and Bruce Fredenburg, both family therapists, collaborative professionals and mediators, have done a deep dive into this topic with years of personal experience with patients and families as well as a great deal of research which they have distilled into a ground-breaking new book, "Home Will Never Be the Same Again: A Guide for Adult Children of Gray Divorce."  It is easy to believe that children who are adults, perhaps with families of their own, will have little to no impact when their parents divorce but the reverse is actually true.  Carol and Bruce provide guidance for parents, children and even therapists in their book and this episode provides insights and tips into this growing paradigm! To enter to win one of 5 FREE Audible copies of the book, please send an email to Carol Hughes at [email protected] and mention "Divorce & Beyond!" More Information About This Week's Special Guests:  Dr. Carol Hughes holds her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology, achieving both summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa honors. She is also a two-time Fulbright Scholar. Board certified hypnotherapist, and EMDR therapist. A California licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and family-focused divorce professional, she works with children, adolescents, and adults in her private practice in Laguna Hills, California. As a therapist, co-parenting and child specialist, divorce coach, and mediator, she has assisted hundreds of families experiencing separation and divorce.  In 2003, Carol was a co-founder of Collaborative Divorce Solutions of Orange County. In 2011, Collaborative Practice California honored Carol with the Eureka Award that recognizes those who have made significant contributions and demonstrated an abiding dedication to establishing and sustaining Collaborative Practice in California.   Carol is the co-author of Home Will Never Be the Same Again: A Guide for Adult Children of Gray Divorce, published by Rowman and Littlefield Publishing Company. Carol's Websites: https://www.divorcepeacemaking.com/ https://www.drcarolhughes.com/   Bruce R. Fredenburg, M.S., LMFT, Co-author of Home Will Never Be the Same Again: A Guide for Adult Children of Gray Divorce helps families solve painful problems that they are struggling with and have not been able to solve on their own. He is a California-licensed Marriage and Family Therapist board certified in clinical hypnosis. He created and taught parenting classes for adoptive and foster parents. Trained and experienced in chronic pain management, trauma, addictions, mediation, and collaborative divorce, Bruce helps families as a therapist, divorce coach, child and co-parenting specialist, and mediator in his practice in Laguna Hills, California.  Bruce creates and presents training programs for corporations, government agencies, schools, and professional.  Author of  Audio Learning Self-Help Programs Anxiety Solution, Sleep Solution, Take the Pain Out of Change and Men and Women: How to Understand Each Other.  Bruce has presented multiple times at California’s annual statewide conference for collaborative professionals, and to the International Association of Collabora