The hardest truth about addiction and mental health struggles is that families become casualties too. Yet no one talks about their recovery. Lisa Katona Smith, TEDx speaker and the author of Parallel Recovery, has pioneered a unique approach to healing that recognizes families as the forgotten participants in the recovery process.

What’s even more unique is that Lisa’s approach doesn't depend on whether the struggling person wants to change or not. Instead, Lisa advocates for what she calls "loving better"—a combination of sustainability and connection that allows families to maintain healthy boundaries while staying emotionally present for their struggling loved one.

Through structured reflection, strong communication tools, and addressing the underlying fears that drive reactive parenting, Lisa shows that families can learn to create an environment where healing becomes possible for everyone involved.

If you or anyone you know is a parent who’s trying to navigate the complex terrain of adolescent mental health challenges, this episode can change your world. It emphasizes the importance of curiosity over interrogation, validation over toxic positivity, and the recognition that sometimes the most loving thing parents can do is examine their own triggers and responses rather than focusing solely on changing their child's behavior.

About Lisa

Lisa Katona Smith, M.Ed., is a TEDx speaker, educator, and author of Parallel Recovery—a family-centered model that empowers loved ones to heal alongside someone facing mental health and substance use challenges. Known for her clarity, compassion, and systems-level insight, Lisa helps families and professionals build sustainable, connection-based recovery through consulting, training, and transformative conversations.

Connect with Lisa

You can connect with Lisa on LinkedIn at Lisa Katona Smith and on Instagram at Parallel Recovery. To find out how to work with Lisa visit her website at Lisa Katona Smith and catch her TEDx Talk The Power Of Parallel Recovery.

Just Released

Parallel Recovery - A Guide For Those Who Love Someone With Substance Use Disorder

Karen Covy is a Divorce Coach and Consultant, Lawyer, Author, and Speaker who is dedicated to helping people make the best decisions possible for themselves, their families, and their future - especially in stressful times. You can check out Karen's videos on YouTube.

You can connect with Karen on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and on her own website at karencovy.com.

When Caitlin made the difficult decision to separate from her husband, she discovered that untangling their shared mortgage would be far more complicated than ending their marriage. Less than a year after purchasing their home together, both names remained on the loan with a crushing $5K mortgage payment each month. Meanwhile, the house has already lost value, leaving them underwater.

Working 60 hours a week between her full-time job and part-time work, plus receiving VA disability benefits, Caitlin technically earns enough to cover the mortgage—but barely, and with no safety net for emergencies or unexpected expenses.

Caitlin’s husband refuses to pay for divorce or refinancing costs, leaving Caitlin to navigate loan assumptions, separation agreements, and the terrifying prospect of going it alone financially. But in this coaching session, she discovers she has more options and negotiating power than she realized.

Karen Covy is a Divorce Coach and Consultant, Lawyer, Author, and Speaker who is dedicated to helping people make the best decisions possible for themselves, their families, and their future - especially in stressful times. You can check out Karen's videos on YouTube.

You can connect with Karen on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and on her own website at karencovy.com.

The moment you’re begging over a $72 reimbursement is the moment you realize the paperwork isn’t the problem—the power dynamic is. That’s exactly what Samantha Boss, high-conflict parenting coach and mediator, discovered. Four years, three attorneys, five judges, and over $100k+ later Samantha’s initial “this is just paperwork” mindset morphed into years of litigation and financial abuse. Now, Samantha helps other moms who are battling high conflict divorces design airtight high conflict parenting plans built for conflict, not fantasy.

The difference between “standard parenting plans” and a high-conflict one isn't just a few extra pages. While typical parenting plans run from 4 -10 pages with a lot of vague, boilerplate language, Samantha’s detailed plans span 18-30 pages and cover everything from "diapers to diplomas."

In this podcast episode Samantha reveals the psychology behind negotiating with difficult exes, how to choose a lawyer who really understands high conflict divorce, and how to choose your divorce process intentionally.

If you’re embroiled in a high conflict divorce, and you have children, this episode is pure gold.

About Samantha

As a certified divorce mediator and coach, Samantha empowers moms to protect themselves and their children's future by providing expert guidance on parenting plans and navigating high-conflict exes.

Connect with Samantha

You can connect with Samantha on LinkedIn at Samantha Boss and on Facebook at The Ugly Truth of Divorce. You can follow Samantha on YouTube at The Ugly Truth of Divorce, on Instagram at The Ugly Truth of Divorce and on her podcast Divorce with Sam and Leah. You can find out how to work with Samantha at Samantha Boss.

Karen Covy is a Divorce Coach and Consultant, Lawyer, Author, and Speaker who is dedicated to helping people make the best decisions possible for themselves, their families, and their future - especially in stressful times. You can check out Karen's videos on YouTube.

You can connect with Karen on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and on her own website at karencovy.com.

Roxanne had listened to her husband's money threats for years, but when he mentioned creating trusts to cut her out, something inside her snapped. She filed for divorce the next day.

Yet, after 33 years of marriage, leaving is still hard – in spite of the fact that her marriage has been over for years. Unfortunately, Roxanne’s husband refuses to accept reality, leaving her to navigate the treacherous waters of a gray divorce while trying to protect herself both financially and physically.

What makes Roxanne's situation particularly complex is that her husband is an alcoholic and is in complete denial about the divorce. With guns in the house and her 30-year-old son serving as an unintentional buffer, Roxanne must carefully balance her safety with the practical challenges of untangling decades of separate finances and preparing for a battle over assets.

Her story reveals the hidden struggles many face when leaving a long-term marriage, especially when one spouse will do anything to maintain the status quo.

Karen Covy is a Divorce Coach and Consultant, Lawyer, Author, and Speaker who is dedicated to helping people make the best decisions possible for themselves, their families, and their future - especially in stressful times. You can check out Karen's videos on YouTube.

You can connect with Karen on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and on her own website at karencovy.com.

When your financial world gets turned upside down, the last thing you want is to feel powerless. That’s why Lauren Connelly, a wealth advisor with over a decade of experience, devotes her career to helping women and families navigate major life transitions like divorce, retirement, and estate planning so that they have enough money after divorce to live comfortably.

Growing up with a single mother who worked tirelessly to rebuild after divorce, Lauren brings both professional expertise and personal insight into why financial clarity and confidence matter so much during times of change, particularly divorce.

Lauren explains how she first saw the power of financial education while working in retirement planning, where she met countless people—especially women—who were suddenly forced to take charge of money decisions they’d never handled before. She makes it clear that understanding the basics, even if you’re not “a numbers person,” can transform fear into empowerment.

Lauren stresses that financial planning isn’t just about numbers—it’s about your life goals. Whether you’re figuring out if you can sustain yourself after divorce, planning to retire comfortably, or simply wanting a second opinion, she emphasizes the value of asking the right questions and finding an advisor who truly fits you. Most importantly, she shows how financial planning, done right, helps you build a future that supports not just your wealth, but your freedom and peace of mind.

About Lauren

Lauren Connelly is a Wealth Management Advisor at Vestor Capital with 10+ years of experience. Lauren is dedicated to assisting clients in growing and protecting their assets so they can achieve what matters most to them.

Lauren, a CFP® professional, believes that fear drives financial decisions too often. She is dedicated to empowering individuals, families, and businesses to identify and realize financial success. Through unbiased and carefully considered guidance, she works with clients as their personal "CFO" and reviews all aspects of their financial lives to help develop, implement, and continuously refine a detailed road map for success.

Connect with Lauren

You can connect with Lauren on LinkedIn at Vestor Capital, email Lauren at lconnelly@vestorcapital.com, and visit her website at Vestor Capital.

Karen Covy is a Divorce Coach and Consultant, Lawyer, Author, and Speaker who is dedicated to helping people make the best decisions possible for themselves, their families, and their future - especially in stressful times. You can check out Karen's videos on YouTube.

You can connect with Karen on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and on her own website at karencovy.com.

Imagine carrying the weight of someone else’s happiness for so long that you forget what it feels like to breathe. Robin has spent the last ten of her 26 years together with her husband slowly suffocating as she's become her husband's caretaker instead of his partner.

While he battles depression and anxiety with little progress despite years of treatment, Robin finds herself drowning in guilt over wanting something she can barely admit: freedom.

Four sessions into couples therapy with her husband, she's finally confronting a devastating truth: she's been building a rich, fulfilling life that deliberately excludes the man sleeping next to her every night.

Now she wonders whether the small cosmetic changes happening in therapy can address the deeper disconnection that's been festering for years, or if it's time to finally have the conversation she's been avoiding about what she truly needs.

Karen Covy is a Divorce Coach and Consultant, Lawyer, Author, and Speaker who is dedicated to helping people make the best decisions possible for themselves, their families, and their future - especially in stressful times. You can check out Karen's videos on YouTube.

You can connect with Karen on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and on her own website at karencovy.com.

"Your divorce doesn't define you." These powerful words from divorce recovery coach Leah Marie Mazur capture the essence of her transformative approach to healing after divorce. Leah Marie brings raw authenticity to the table, sharing how her own journey through three divorces led to profound self-discovery and eventually, to her calling to help other women, especially moms, to rebuild self-esteem, set boundaries, and navigate both divorce recovery and co-parenting with confidence.

Leah Marie emphasizes that divorce recovery isn't just about getting over the end of your marriage. It's about understanding your patterns, taking ownership of your role, and learning to meet your own needs so you don't rely on others to fill emotional voids.

Leah Marie and co-founder Samantha Boss also created the Next Chapter membership, a private community and resource hub specifically for women dealing with high-conflict divorces and co-parenting struggles. The platform offers practical tools, compassionate support, and the reminder that divorce is not who you are, it’s just one chapter in your story.

About Leah

Leah Marie Mazur is a Certified Divorce Recovery Coach, and the founder of Mindfully Ready and co-creator of The Next Chapter membership. She specializes in helping divorced moms heal, rebuild self-esteem, and co-parent with confidence after high-conflict breakups. Through coaching, courses, and community, Leah empowers women to set boundaries, prioritize themselves, and create fulfilling new chapters in life. Her own experience of navigating three divorces fuels her passion for guiding women through recovery with compassion and proven strategies.

Connect with Leah

You can connect with Leah Marie on LinkedIn at Mindfully Ready and on Facebook at Mindfully Ready. You can follow Leah Marie on TikTok @mindfullyReady, on Instagram at Mindfully Ready and on YouTube at @mindfullyready. To find out more about Leah Marie’s work, visit her website at Mindfully Ready.

Just Launched!

The New Woman Within: Empowered Moms, Empowered Kids. A self-paced program designed to help divorced moms heal, rebuild confidence, and create a life they genuinely love—while modeling healthy coping and boundaries for their children.

Karen Covy is a Divorce Coach and Consultant, Lawyer, Author, and Speaker who is dedicated to helping people make the best decisions possible for themselves, their families, and their future - especially in stressful times. You can check out Karen's videos on YouTube.

You can connect with Karen on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and on her own website at karencovy.com.

What if the secret to successful post-divorce dating isn't about perfecting your dating profile, but about understanding the three crucial criteria that most people completely ignore?

In this podcast episode, love coach Laurie Gerber reveals her revolutionary "3-H method" that has helped countless women over 50 navigate the treacherous waters of modern dating. As someone who saved her own marriage from the brink of divorce (now 26 years strong) before becoming a professional coach, Laurie brings unique insight to relationship challenges.

Laurie and I dive deeply into WHEN and HOW you should start dating again after divorce [SPOILER ALERT: It's not when you think!]. We also talk about how to avoid the most common pitfalls that will keep you stuck in dating limbo.

Finally, we discuss how to navigate the modern maze of online dating and how to master the progression from digital banter to video chats to live dates.

This episode is full of helpful tips and down-to-earth advice that will leave you feeling empowered to dive back into the dating world with confidence. As Laurie says, it’s never too late to find love … but only if you start by doing your own inner work first.

About Laurie

Laurie Gerber is one of the most engaging and effective life coaches and presenters in the country.

After holding several positions at Handel Group® over the last 20 years, including President of HG Life, Laurie is currently licensing The Handel Method® and running Laurie Gerber Coaching, Inc. focusing on LOVE coaching.

Laurie has appeared on the Today Show, Dr, Phil, MTV and A & E and been the resident love expert at Match, Zoosk, Jdate, and many more.

She has been presenting to and coaching individuals, couples, and groups, with a wide range of partners including: the dating sites above, General Assembly, She Tribe, BeSocialChange, IvyConnect, Ellevate, and many more. She has appeared on television shows, podcasts, radio shows, and all over the internet. Check out “The Secret-Free Diet”, her TedX talk on the power of truth telling.

When not working from her NYC townhouse, she’s meditating, jogging, or attempting to get cuddles from her 10, 20 and 22-year old kids and husband of 26 years.

Connect with Laurie

You can connect with Laurie on LinkedIn at Laurie Gerber and on Facebook at Laurie Gerber. You can follow Laurie on Instagram @lauriegerber_coach, on TikTok at lauriegerber_coach and on YouTube at @lauriegerbercoach. To find out more about Laurie’s work visit her website at Laurie Gerber and for more of Laurie's dating resources check out her FREE webinar:

"3 Secrets to Finding and Maintaining Healthy Love without Repeated Disappointments"

Karen Covy is a Divorce Coach and Consultant, Lawyer, Author, and Speaker who is dedicated to helping people make the best decisions possible for themselves, their families, and their future - especially in stressful times. You can check out Karen's videos on YouTube.

You can connect with Karen on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and on her own website at karencovy.com.