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We share five practical ways to be emotionally available with your kids and your partner, based on what we see repeatedly in work with teens and couples. The goal is less turbulence at home by replacing fixing and defensiveness with listening, steadiness, and repair.
• listening before offering solutions so kids and partners feel heard
• making room for feelings while still limiting harmful behaviour
• giving undivided attention and taking interest in small things
• building trust early so teens bring bigger problems to us
• managing our reaction so honesty does not get punished
• repairing quickly after we snap or get it wrong
• apologising without adding “but” and cancelling the apology
• using reminders to follow through on repair conversations
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Doc David

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We break down what “toxic” looks like in real relationships and why it can feel subtle until you notice the pattern. We lay out the behaviours that keep conflict unresolved and explain how we protect ourselves with clearer boundaries and lower expectations.
• defining toxicity as patterns that vary by relationship context
• why toxicity can blend with gaslighting and leave you second guessing
• threats of cutting off the relationship and the martyr swing
• ignoring valid issues while spotlighting your mistakes
• refusing to apologise and deflecting with “well you do this”
• passive aggressive shutdowns when confronted with facts
• absolutist language like “you always” and “you never” as a red flag
• choosing boundaries, limiting information, and managing contact
If you have any questions, drop me a line at headshrinkinc in c at gmail.com.

Doc David

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Family court can turn your private life into a public argument, and the people asked to “sort it out” are often working inside messy rules and even messier incentives. We sit down with clinical social worker Erin Hillesso to unpack what custody evaluations and parenting evaluations actually do, how they differ from a guardian ad litem, and why neutrality is a skill you have to build on purpose, not a vibe you claim. If you’ve ever wondered how judges make decisions in high conflict divorce, this conversation gives you a clear map of the process and the pressure points.

We also go straight at reunification therapy and the explosion of private pay reunification programs, including controversial reunification camps. Aaron explains how rigid “everything is alienation” thinking can erase real abuse, how coercive control and post-separation abuse can hide in plain sight, and why ethical reunification work starts with evaluation and safety screening before anyone pushes contact. Along the way, we talk about why psychometric testing is often overused in family court, how reports get weaponized, and what it’s like to testify when attorneys are trying to discredit you.

The behind-the-scenes reality matters too: state oversight can range from strict rosters to the wild west, licensing complaints can be used as retaliation, and interstate licensing can complicate cases where parents live across state lines. Aaron also shares perspective on estrangement, culture, and why one-size explanations rarely fit real families. If you care about child welfare, family systems, and the ethics of court-involved therapy, you’ll leave with sharper questions and more practical insight. Subscribe, share this with someone navigating family court, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

Doc David