College admissions have changed dramatically since we were applying—and if you’re parenting a teen right now, you probably feel that in your bones. In this episode, we talk honestly about the new reality of college admissions, why even “perfect on paper” kids aren’t guaranteed a spot anymore, and how this process has become a major source of anxiety for both parents and teens. We share personal stories from our own families and what we’re seeing every day in our therapy offices.

More importantly, we dig into how not to let college admissions take over your identity, your household, or your relationship with your child. This conversation is about perspective, mental health, cost, and helping your kids find a path that actually fits who they are—not who the culture says they should be. If you’re navigating college decisions right now (or know it’s coming), this episode is meant to ground you, calm you, and remind you that there are many roads to a good life.

Episode Highlights:

[0:00] – We introduce the episode and why college admissions have become such an emotional minefield for families.
[0:56] – Laura shares why this topic is personal and how fast admissions standards have shifted—even in just a few years.
[1:57] – Why state schools like Florida State University and University of Florida feel nearly impossible to access now.
[3:44] – Laura walks through the very different college paths of her three kids.
[4:50] – We admit our former college “snobbery” and how our perspectives have radically changed.
[5:30] – Colette reflects on her own college choices and why fit matters more than prestige.
[9:30] – The real cost of college—and how skyrocketing tuition is shaping admissions pressure.
[11:27] – Why community college and schools like University of Central Florida deserve way more respect.
[14:49] – How parental fear and identity get tangled up in kids’ college outcomes.
[17:23] – Letting go of the “one right path” myth and expanding what success can look like.
[21:33] – Supporting instead of micromanaging: being air traffic control, not the pilot.
[24:22] – Why kids aren’t always developmentally ready for college—and why that’s okay.
[27:02] – Protecting your home (and your sanity) with financial and emotional boundaries.
[28:48] – Comparison culture, social media, and why they make this process so much harder.
[30:30] – Creative, nonlinear paths: gap years, transfers, CLEP exams, and thinking differently.
[31:54] – Our reminder that there are always choices—and this is not the end of the story.

I

Pre-order The Cost of Quiet now! Colette’s new book, The Cost of Quiet: How to Have the Hard Conversations that Create Secure, Lasting Love, launches February 3rd. Secure your copy today and get VIP bonuses available only before launch day. https://www.colettejanefehr.com/new-book

🎙️ Love the podcast? Come talk about episodes with us inside The Midlife Chat. It’s a free, private community just for women at midlife who want to keep these conversations going. We’ve created this space for real talk, fresh resources, and honest connection—where you can share ideas and resources, ask questions, and get support from women navigating the same season. Come join us—we’d love to have you!

👉 Join The Midlife Chat here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/795863256460970/

Pre-order The Cost of Quiet now! Colette’s new book, The Cost of Quiet: How to Have the Hard Conversations that Create Secure, Lasting Love, launches February 3rd. Secure your copy today and get VIP bonuses available only before launch day.

In this episode of Insights from the Couch, we sit down with licensed therapist, writer, and divorce support group leader Oona Metz to have one of the most honest, grounding, and hope-filled conversations we’ve ever had about divorce—especially at midlife. We talk about why divorce still carries so much stigma, why so many women feel isolated and ashamed, and what actually helps people heal instead of staying stuck.

Together, we explore the emotional reality of divorce, why it can feel like a total identity loss, and how healing doesn’t come from rushing forward—but from understanding the process. Oona shares the framework behind her new book, Unhitched: The Essential Divorce Guide for Women, and helps normalize the heartbreak, chaos, growth, and transformation that so many women experience but rarely talk about out loud.

Episode Highlights:

[0:00] – Welcome to Insights from the Couch and why this conversation matters so much at midlife
[2:30] – Introducing Oona Metz and the inspiration behind Unhitched
[5:15] – Why divorce still feels shameful—even though it’s so common
[8:00] – Redefining “success” in marriage and letting go of outdated narratives
[12:30] – The emotional tsunami of divorce and why uncertainty is so hard on the nervous system
[15:30] – The five emotional phases of divorce: heartbreak, roller coaster, mending, letting go, and moving on
[20:40] – Why people get stuck after divorce—and what actually helps them heal
[24:30] – Letting go without pretending it was “okay”
[28:00] – Forgiveness, reframed: releasing yourself, not excusing harm
[33:00] – Why distraction and dating too soon can backfire
[37:45] – The power of divorce support groups and not doing this alone
[41:00] – What Oona hopes every woman knows about healing after divorce
[43:00] – How to find Oona, her book, and free divorce resources

Links and Resources:

Oona Metz’s website and free divorce resources: https://www.oonametz.com

Book: Unhitched: The Essential Divorce Guide for Women by Oona Metz: https://www.amazon.com/Unhitched-Essential-Divorce-Guide-Women/dp/1668075385

If today's discussion resonated with you or sparked curiosity, please rate, follow, and share "Insights from the Couch" with others. Your support helps us reach more people and continue providing valuable insights. Here’s to finding our purposes and living a life full of meaning and joy. Sta

Pre-order The Cost of Quiet now! Colette’s new book, The Cost of Quiet: How to Have the Hard Conversations that Create Secure, Lasting Love, launches February 3rd. Secure your copy today and get VIP bonuses available only before launch day. https://www.colettejanefehr.com/new-book

🎙️ Love the podcast? Come talk about episodes with us inside The Midlife Chat. It’s a free, private community just for women at midlife who want to keep these conversations going. We’ve created this space for real talk, fresh resources, and honest connection—where you can share ideas and resources, ask questions, and get support from women navigating the same season. Come join us—we’d love to have you!

👉 Join The Midlife Chat here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/795863256460970/

Pre-order The Cost of Quiet now! Colette’s new book, The Cost of Quiet: How to Have the Hard Conversations that Create Secure, Lasting Love, launches February 3rd. Secure your copy today and get VIP bonuses available only before launch day.

As we wrap up the year, we’re inviting you into a different kind of year-end ritual—one that’s less about resolutions and more about reflection. In this episode, we’re doing a midlife audit: looking honestly at what we’re ready to shed and what we want to intentionally carry forward into 2026. From other people’s opinions to outdated expectations, we’re talking about the emotional baggage that quietly drains our energy—and how freeing it can be to finally let it go.

We also dig into what we’re keeping: connection, meaning, nervous system regulation, health, authenticity, and the freedom to live outside the status quo. This is a grounded, honest conversation about midlife as a season of shedding skins, reclaiming agency, and choosing a life that actually feels good to live. If you’re craving clarity, permission, and a more intentional way to step into the new year, this one’s for you.

Episode Highlights:

[0:46] – Kicking off a year-end audit instead of traditional resolutions
[1:18] – The inspiration behind “not caring anymore” at midlife
[3:03] – Letting go as a lifelong practice and why shedding gets easier with age
[4:40] – Releasing other people’s opinions about our bodies, habits, and choices
[7:44] – Being done with explaining ourselves—bedtimes included
[9:28] – Downsizing, simplifying, and redefining what “home” needs to be now
[13:09] – Midlife as a season of shedding and making space for what’s next
[14:45] – Letting go of one-sided or draining friendships
[16:43] – Prioritizing nervous system regulation and protecting our peace
[17:42] – Giving up pretending we’re fine when we’re not
[20:00] – Choosing depth, authenticity, and real conversations over small talk
[22:06] – What we’re keeping: health, strength, movement, and time outdoors
[24:56] – Filtering life through meaning, purpose, and connection
[25:51] – Saying yes to connection and whole-body yeses
[28:00] – Comfort over performance: clothes, shoes, and realistic expectations
[30:08] – Speaking our truth, changing our minds, and honoring ourselves
[31:02] – Letting go of the status quo and choosing a life that fits
[34:44] – Remembering that life is happening now, not later

If today's discussion resonated with you or sparked curiosity, please rate, follow, and share "Insights from the Couch" with others. Your support helps us reach more people and continue providing valuable insights. Here’s to finding our purposes and living a life full of meaning and joy. Stay tuned for more!

Pre-order The Cost of Quiet now! Colette’s new book, The Cost of Quiet: How to Have the Hard Conversations that Create Secure, Lasting Love, launches February 3rd. Secure your copy today and get VIP bonuses available only before launch day. https://www.colettejanefehr.com/new-book

🎙️ Love the podcast? Come talk about episodes with us inside The Midlife Chat. It’s a free, private community just for women at midlife who want to keep these conversations going. We’ve created this space for real talk, fresh resources, and honest connection—where you can share ideas and resources, ask questions, and get support from women navigating the same season. Come join us—we’d love to have you!

👉 Join The Midlife Chat here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/795863256460970/

Pre-order The Cost of Quiet now! Colette’s new book, The Cost of Quiet: How to Have the Hard Conversations that Create Secure, Lasting Love, launches February 3rd. Secure your copy today and get VIP bonuses available only before launch day.