Lovin' And Leavin'

What does life look like after divorce? What does dating look like? Are they ready? Have they healed? How do the kids feel about it? Mark and Denise discuss what people experience when dating after a divorce, some of the patterns and pitfalls people fall into, and how that can play out in the courtroom.

Denise and Mark discuss situations where parents are using their children as weapons against each other. How does one do that? Some parents control access to the children by being inflexible with parenting time; others will make things purposefully inconvenient, like extracurricular activities or doctor appointments, in order to affect or exclude the other spouse. Some parents go so far as to alienate or poison the relationship of the children with their spouse. How is this accomplished? Does it fly in court? Is there any way to fix it?

Have you ever been in a relationship with someone where you’re “walking on eggshells”? Is someone new in your life suddenly your best friend? Do they instantly turn on you? They can be a borderline personality and particularly difficult to have a relationship with. Denise and Mark discuss what borderline personality disorder is, the key hallmarks, what causes it, why it can be so hard to detect, and whether they can ever be self-aware enough to understand how they are behaving. Most importantly, what does it look l like to divorce one?

Amazing wealth can affect a relationship, marriage, and divorce in a variety of ways you might not expect. Chicago Divorce Attorney Mark Schondorf and Family and Relationship Therapist Denise Ambre discuss what goes on between couples who are rich, really rich, and uber-rich. What if it's her money? What if it's family money? Can a really rich person even find true love? What's in a rich person's prenup? How much can divorce lawyers fight over when there are endless funds to fuel litigation?? Find out on this week's episode of Lovin' and Leavin'!

In this episode, Chicago Divorce Attorney Mark Schondorf and Relationship Therapist Denise Ambre discuss a particularly difficult subject - physical abuse. What is the cycle of abuse? Why does it happen? Do women abuse men? How does the legal system help victims? What if there is abuse in a divorce? And why is the system to help abusers miserably broken?

In this episode, Chicago Divorce Attorney Mark Schondorf and North Shore Family Therapist Denise Ambre discuss narcissim. What is narcissim? What does it mean to be a narcissist? It's more than just liking what you see in the mirror! How do these people get this way? Why do people choose to be in relationships with these people? And what happens if you're divorcing a naricissist? Hold on, cause it's gonna be a bumpy and emotional ride!

In Episode 3 of Lovin' and Leavin', Chicago Divorce Attorney Mark Schondorf and Chicago Family Therapist Denise Ambre discuss the devastating toll a new baby can have on a relationship! Mama bears! Clueless Daddies! Too many trips to the emergency room! It's more than just daiper duty and sleepless nights! Why is this a common time for people to leave a relationship? Is there anything people can do other than just hold on?  

The introductory episode of Lovin' and Leavin', the podcast with Chicago North Shore Divorce Attorney Mark Schondorf and Chicago North Shore Relationship Therapist Denise Ambre discuss relationship issues, marriage and divorce, how those issues impact a divorce and vice versa, and whether those issues can be fixed

In Episode 2, Chicago Divorce Attorney Mark Schondorf and Chicago Family Therapist Denise Ambre discuss infidelity, including why people cheat, the devestating effects it causes on relationships, and how it plays out in divorce. Are people serial cheaters? Why do cheaters and cheatees (is that a word?) manage to choose each other over and over again? What emotional needs are being met? Is it ok to have a "work wife"? How do we head cheating and infidelity off at the pass?

The first episode explores money in relationships and divorce, particularly when there is not enough money! A common problem, but not for common reasons. Hoarding money! Compulsive QVC shopping! Fridges connected to the internet! It's not just keeping up with the Joneses, but there's that too! What causes people to ask this way? And can it be fixed?