076: Using “Structure” to Reduce Anxiety and Keep the Kids Out of the Middle: Part 2 of 2 with Dr. Ben Garber

In this episode of the Children First Family Law Podcast, Krista Nash continues her conversation with Dr. Ben Garber, exploring how structure — in all its forms — serves as a foundation for children’s emotional health during and after divorce. From consistent bedtimes to bulletproof parenting plans, Dr. Garber makes the case that structure isn’t about control — it’s about reducing anxiety and helping children feel safe in an uncertain world.

Dr. Garber draws on more than 40 years of experience to address parents, co-parents, and family law professionals alike, using the framework of Russian nesting dolls to show how structure operates at every level of a family system. He also tackles the guilt-driven impulse to relax the rules during divorce — and why that instinct, however well-meaning, often backfires.

In this episode, you will hear:

  • Why structure reduces anxiety in children during and after divorce
  • The guilt trap — and why relaxing rules during divorce often backfires
  • How cooperative co-parents can operate with more flexibility, and why high-conflict parents need more rigid, court-imposed structure
  • The “nesting doll” framework — how structure applies at every level, from individual self-care to the courtroom
  • Self-care as structure — and why burned-out parents ultimately harm their kids
  • What family law professionals and judges can do to build better outcomes through intentional structure

Resources from this Episode

www.childrenfirstfamilylaw.com

All states have different laws; be sure you are checking out your state laws specifically surrounding divorce. Krista is a licensed attorney in Colorado and Wyoming but is not providing through this podcast legal advice. Please be sure to seek independent legal counsel in your area for your specific situation. 

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The post 076: Using “Structure” to Reduce Anxiety and Keep the Kids Out of the Middle: Part 2 of 2 with Dr. Ben Garber appeared first on Children First Family Law PC.



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