Planning for Life After Divorce: Prepare for Setbacks
By Katie Vandenberg, CDC Certified Divorce Coach® | Focused Forward Planning for life after divorce requires dual preparation: building your ideal outcome while preparing for setbacks. Resilience during divorce emerges when you anticipate failures, rejected settlements, custody violations, and financial surprises before they occur. This strategic framework separates stable outcomes from reactive chaos. Using the […]
Divorce Resilience: How to Prepare for Setbacks
Originally Published Oct 2020, updated May 2025 When life takes an unexpected turn, having a strategy can make all the difference. As a Central Illinois divorce coach, I’ve seen how preparation transforms overwhelming situations into manageable challenges. The Plans We Make (And When They Fall Apart) You plan your days, weeks, and long-term goals meticulously. You […]
Your First Thanksgiving After Divorce: How to Cope
It’s Thanksgiving week, and while there is a lot to be thankful for, I am keenly aware of the heavy feelings that surface during the holidays. I had a client talk with me today about this exact struggle, and it thrust me right back to my own First Thanksgiving after Divorce. In fact, I think […]
Thanksgiving Birthdays, Gratitude and New Beginnings
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I spent it at home; we hosted about 14 people. It was the perfect number to have a full house with lots of conversations and kiddos running around, but not too many that we were stressed. Everyone brought something, and it made for a fairly laid-back day […]
Five Lessons About Divorce, Growth and Starting Over
Somehow the first month of 2024 is almost over! I’ve been wildly and joyfully busy in all areas of my life! It took a little bit to get a routine back in place with what felt like too many snow and ice days keeping our kids home from school, but this week, FINALLY, I should […]
I’ll Never Be This Version of Me Again: Life After Divorce
“I will never have this version of me again, let me slow down and be with her” Rupi Kaur Going through a divorce, like any kind of grief, can often make us wish it away sooner than later. We do this in any variety of ways. Drinking too much. Dating too soon. Stuffing our emotions. Exercising […]
Planning for Life After Divorce: Prepare for Setbacks
By Katie Vandenberg, CDC Certified Divorce Coach® | Focused Forward Planning for life after divorce requires dual preparation: building your ideal outcome while preparing for setbacks. Resilience during divorce emerges when you anticipate failures, rejected settlements, custody violations, and financial surprises before they occur. This strategic framework separates stable outcomes from reactive chaos. Using the […]
Divorce Coaching for Shame, Loss and New Beginnings
Although it’s still beautiful fall weather, I recently re-read *Wintering* by Katherine May. As someone who loves winter, I was immediately drawn into her imagery of cozy blankets, flickering candles, and the comforting warmth of a hot toddy. But the book’s purpose goes beyond these cozy winter scenes. May explores “wintering” as a metaphor for […]
Thanksgiving After Divorce: 5 Ways to Reclaim Your Peace
By Katie Vandenberg, CDC Certified Divorce Coach® | Focused Forward Quick Answer: How to Navigate Thanksgiving After Divorce. Navigating Thanksgiving after divorce requires a shift from passive endurance to active strategy. To reclaim the holiday, start by replacing painful old traditions with new “anti-traditions” (like ordering takeout or volunteering). Protect your mental health with a […]
Best Books for Healing and Rebuilding After Divorce
Originally published in 2022. Updated in 2025 with new book recommendations. Why Books Matter During Divorce Recovery Reading can be a powerful tool for healing, especially when navigating the challenges of divorce. Whether you’re seeking comfort, guidance, or a fresh perspective, my book list highlights some of the best books to help you rebuild and move […]