The High Conflict Co-Parenting Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 250 - Dynamics of Opposition and Perspectives in High Conflict with Jussi Light LMFT Oct 30, 2026

Show notes

Why do two parents who both want a relationship with their children end up locked in opposition? Brook Olsen talks with Jussi Light, a licensed marriage and family therapist and founder of New Growth Counseling in Carlsbad, California. He has spent two decades working with complex trauma and high-conflict custody cases.

Jussi explains why structure has to come before de-escalation. He also describes how a parent’s own trauma and shame can drive the need for a child’s loyalty, and how parental enmeshment pulls a child against the other parent. He shares a practical idea for transitions: give kids a “mud room” to shake off the attitude they bring home. He also makes the case for specialized courts trained in high-conflict cases.

To reach his practice, search New Growth Counseling Carlsbad, California.

Episode 290 - How to Choose a Therapist or Conjoint Therapist for Your Children Oct 28, 2026

Show notes

When a court orders therapy for your child, the therapist you choose can move reunification forward or stall it for months. In this episode, Brook Olsen talks with two family therapists who work high-conflict custody cases about how to choose well.

They explain the difference between individual and conjoint therapy, and the red flags to watch for. One is an individual therapist who has never spoken to both parents or hasn’t read the court orders. Another is a therapist who lets a child decide whether they are “ready” to see a parent. They also discuss why a child’s confidentiality works differently when the parent and child are the client together. Finally, they cover why a good treatment plan names enmeshment, triangulation, and parentification, and how to get that language into your court orders.

If you are choosing a therapist for your child right now, this episode will help you know what to ask and what to avoid.

Episode 289: How Family of Origin Dynamics Can Lead to High-Conflict Relationships Oct 15, 2026

Show notes

Why do some relationships become trapped in cycles of conflict, fear, and emotional reactivity?

In this episode of the High Conflict Co-Parenting Podcast, Brooke Olson is joined by Jussi Light, LMFT, and Bryson Greaves, Ph.D., to explore how early family experiences and past relationship patterns can shape the way we respond to conflict later in life.

Together, they look beyond labels such as attachment styles and personality disorders to examine the underlying dynamics that influence human behavior. They discuss how childhood experiences, unresolved fears, shame, and past betrayals can affect communication, trust, boundaries, and co-parenting relationships.

The conversation highlights the importance of understanding what drives our reactions, recognizing emotional triggers, and building safer, healthier interactions that prioritize children's well-being.

In this episode, you'll discover:

How family-of-origin experiences can influence adult relationships.

Why focusing on behavior and relationship dynamics can be more helpful than relying on labels.

How fear and past experiences can fuel conflict between co-parents.

Why boundaries, trust, and emotional awareness matter when navigating high-conflict situations.

How understanding underlying patterns can support healthier co-parenting and better outcomes for children.

Episode 007: Knowing what you want and strategies to get there mixdown Oct 06, 2026

Show notes

In Episode 7 of the High Conflict Co-Parenting Podcast, Brooke and Charlie explore an important question for parents navigating high-conflict divorce and custody situations: What do you really want, and what will it take to get there?

When parents are caught in years of conflict over custody, money, assets, and other disputes, it can become difficult to see beyond survival and the next battle. The hosts discuss how identifying what you truly need, what your children need, and what is actually worth fighting for can help you move forward.

Brooke and Charlie share real-world examples of parents who became stuck in prolonged conflict, sometimes spending years, significant financial resources, and enormous emotional energy fighting battles that ultimately prevented them from moving on.

This episode examines how to distinguish between fighting for justice, fighting for survival, and fighting over things that may no longer serve you or your children. The conversation also explores why it can sometimes be easier to identify what you don't want first, and how that clarity can help you determine what you actually need.

If you're struggling to move forward after a high-conflict divorce, this episode offers practical perspective on defining your priorities, reducing unnecessary conflict, and developing strategies to build a healthier path forward for yourself and your children.

Episode 325: Nicola Ranson on Healing from Coercive Control Oct 02, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the High Conflict Co-Parenting Podcast, Brook Olsen and Nicola Ranson delve into the complexities of coercive control, narcissism, and the dynamics of abusive relationships, including cult-like behaviors. They discuss the impact of these dynamics on victims, the importance of recovery, and strategies for navigating family dynamics and parental alienation. The conversation delves into the dynamics of coercive control, narcissism, and the healing process from trauma, particularly in the context of abusive relationships and cults. It emphasizes the importance of understanding these dynamics, the role of self-compassion, and the complexities involved in recovery and personal growth.

Episode 177: Conflict Avoidance Aggression And Boundary Setting with Eric Sjoberg Sep 29, 2026

Show notes

Brooke Olsen and Eric Sjoberg look at how conflict shows up in every relationship, healthy or not, and how the way we handle it is shaped by the family we grew up in. The conversation centers on three things: conflict avoidance, aggression, and boundary setting.

Episode 324: Beven Byrnes on Transition, Structure & Predictability Sep 08, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the High Conflict Co-Parenting Podcast, host Brook Olsen sits down with Beven Burns, Executive Director of Bridges Middle School, the only middle school in Oregon exclusively serving neurodivergent students. Beven shares how her school builds belonging, confidence, and community for kids with ADHD and other forms of neurodivergence — helping them move from feeling excluded to feeling truly understood. The conversation dives into the shame and stigma many families carry, the power of viewing neurodivergence through an asset-based lens rather than a deficit-based one, and practical strategies for parents — especially in co-parenting households — like the power of the pause, mindful breathing, and building predictable routines. Beven also recommends resources like understood.org for parents seeking support and tools to navigate neurodivergence at home and at school.

Episode 323 : The journey of 'getting it right' with Michelle Mitchell Jun 30, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Brooke sits down again with Michelle Mitchell for a conversation on "getting it right" in co-parenting and coaching. They trace Michelle's own journey — from her early co-parenting years and first classes back in 2013–2014, through training with Brooke, to becoming a coach herself — and use it as a mirror for where many listeners are today. The conversation moves through the evolution of coaching and training over time, the triage model for managing crisis versus deeper work, and why simplifying internal systems matters more than accumulating more knowledge. They also dig into the difference between knowing a skill and embodying it, the role of awareness and integrity in staying out of reactive patterns, why AI can't replace the discernment needed for real internal work, and why this is ultimately a lifelong journey rather than a problem to solve once.

Chapters:
00:00 The Journey of Getting It Right
05:30 The Triage Model and Layered Learning
21:13 The Impact of Behavior and Orientation
27:49 Protecting Children in Conflict
34:33 Conscious Parenting and Generational Shift
40:30 The Importance of Quality over Volume
53:14 The Journey of Personal Growth
59:00 The Lifelong Journey of Personal Development

About our guest:
Michelle Mitchell, J.D., is a California-licensed attorney and founder of High Conflict Resolutions, LLC, a Certified HCDP™ Coach and Educator and a Certified New Ways for Families® Instructor whose practice spans high-conflict co-parenting coaching, structured co-parenting communication coaching, parent coordination, and litigation preparation.

Connect with Michelle:

Website: coparentingcoach.com
Email: michelle@coparentingcoach.com
Instagram: @coparentingwithmichelle
Facebook: Coach Michelle SD
LinkedIn: Michelle D. Mitchell

If you're ready for structure instead of chaos, go to https://disengage.highconflict.net/next-step and take the next step. We'll guide you from there.

For classes or one-on-one consults with Brook, please visit our website to register: https://www.highconflict.net/

Free High Conflict Diversion Program Booklet: "When Co-Parenting Doesn't Work." https://disengage.highconflict.net/free-booklet

Join our mailing list: https://disengage.highconflict.net/emails
Disengage and Thrive: One Email at a Time

Episode 322: Navigating the Emotional Elements of Divorce with author Oona Metz Jun 25, 2026

Show notes

In this insightful interview, Oona Metz, author of 'Unhitched,' shares her expertise on the emotional journey of divorce, the gender dynamics involved, and practical strategies for navigating this challenging life transition. Discover how to turn divorce into a transformative experience and support your mental health through support groups and self-care.

If you're ready for structure instead of chaos, go to https://disengage.highconflict.net/next-step and take the next step. We’ll guide you from there.

For classes or one on one consults with Brook please visit our website to register. https://www.highconflict.net/

Free High Conflict Diversion Program Booklet: "When Co-Parenting Doesn't Work." https://disengage.highconflict.net/free-booklet

Join our mailing list: https://disengage.highconflict.net/emails

Disengage and Thrive: One Email at a Time

Episode 321: The Evolution of AI in Co-Parenting Communication Jun 04, 2026

Show notes

In this insightful interview, Sol Kennedy discusses the innovative AI-powered co-parenting app, Best Interest, designed to reduce conflict and improve communication between high-conflict parents. Brooke Olsen explores the platform's features, challenges, and the importance of personal growth in co-parenting.

If you're ready for structure instead of chaos,

go to https://disengage.highconflict.net/next-step

and take the next step. We’ll guide you from there.

For classes or one on one consults with Brook please visit our website to register. https://www.highconflict.net/

Free High Conflict Diversion Program Booklet: "When Co-Parenting Doesn't Work." https://disengage.highconflict.net/free-booklet

Join our mailing list: https://disengage.highconflict.net/emails

Disengage and Thrive: One Email at a Time