76. Changes in UK family law: What Australia must learn (and face)
Recent reforms in the United Kingdom have shaken the family-law landscape - finally recognising that domestic abuse is not just an adult issue, but a child-safety issue. In this episode, Danielle Black breaks down what’s changing in the UK, what Australia has already reformed on paper, and why our culture and professional ideology are still lagging behind.You’ll hear how both countries are redefining “best interests of the child” to centre safety over shared care, and why this shift is long overdue. Danielle unpacks the uncomfortable truth: perpetrators of family violence are not good parents, and children have a right to be protected - even when that means limited or no contact.Drawing on her work with protective parents and the 2024 Australian Family Law Act reforms, Danielle explores how society’s obsession with “children need both parents” continues to undermine genuine child-focused practice, and what needs to change if we’re serious about protecting children from harm.In this episode:What the new UK reforms really mean for family courtsThe parallels with Australia’s 2024 Family Law Act changesWhy ideology still outweighs evidence in many legal processesThe truth about family violence as a parenting, not relationship, problemDisclaimer:This podcast provides general information only. It is not legal advice, counselling, or a substitute for individual coaching. Always seek professional guidance specific to your situation.About Danielle Black: Danielle Black is a respected authority in child-focused post-separation parenting in Australia. With over twenty years’ experience in education, counselling and coaching - and her own lived experience navigating a complex separation - she helps parents advocate strategically and protect their children’s safety and wellbeing. Learn more at danielleblackcoaching.com.au. This podcast is for educational purposes only and not legal advice. Please seek independent legal, medical, financial, or mental health advice for your situation.
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75. Radical acceptance & capacity: What actually changes your life
When your co-parent’s behaviour never seems to change, it’s easy to believe that peace will only come once they start doing things differently.But waiting for that moment keeps you stuck - exhausted, reactive, and powerless.In this episode, Danielle unpacks what actually changes your life when the chaos doesn’t stop: radical acceptance and building inner capacity.You’ll learn how to stop burning energy trying to hold your ex to account, what “dropping the rope” really means, and how to reclaim calm for yourself and your children - even when the other parent refuses to evolve.Danielle also shares an important, trauma-informed clarification: coaching isn’t counselling.If trauma responses are still dominating daily life, professional therapy - especially trauma-specific approaches like EMDR - is the essential first step.Coaching then becomes the rocket fuel - the action-based framework that helps you strategise and rebuild, once your nervous system is ready.In this episode:Why radical acceptance isn’t “giving up” - it’s reclaiming powerHow capacity is built through daily nervous-system practicesWhen coaching helps … and when counselling must come firstWhy documentation still matters - without emotional re-engagementWhat “dropping the rope” looks and feels like in real lifeHow protecting your peace protects your childrenIf you’ve ever wondered how to stop being triggered by your co-parent’s behaviour and start leading from clarity instead of chaos, this episode will help you find that steady ground.Disclaimer:This podcast provides general information only.It is not legal advice, counselling, or a substitute for individual coaching.Always seek professional guidance specific to your situation.About Danielle Black: Danielle Black is a respected authority in child-focused post-separation parenting in Australia. With over twenty years’ experience in education, counselling and coaching - and her own lived experience navigating a complex separation - she helps parents advocate strategically and protect their children’s safety and wellbeing. Learn more at danielleblackcoaching.com.au. This podcast is for educational purposes only and not legal advice. Please seek independent legal, medical, financial, or mental health advice for your situation.
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74. The thought error keeping you stuck
If you’ve ever found yourself thinking “My life will only improve when my ex changes,” this episode is for you.In this conversation, Danielle unpacks one of the most common - and painful - thought errors that keeps protective parents trapped in reactivity: believing peace will come only when the other parent behaves differently. You’ll learn why waiting for change keeps you powerless, what true emotional and what emotional and nervous system capacity really means.This episode covers:Why your wellbeing can’t depend on your co-parent’s behaviourThe difference between performance calm and genuine regulationHow to stop fighting reality and start creating stability for your childrenA real-life story of transformation that proves peace is possible without external changeIf you’re navigating a high-conflict separation or parenting alongside a difficult ex, this episode will help you understand what actually changes your life - and what doesn’t.About Danielle Black: Danielle Black is a respected authority in child-focused post-separation parenting in Australia. With over twenty years’ experience in education, counselling and coaching - and her own lived experience navigating a complex separation - she helps parents advocate strategically and protect their children’s safety and wellbeing. Learn more at danielleblackcoaching.com.au. This podcast is for educational purposes only and not legal advice. Please seek independent legal, medical, financial, or mental health advice for your situation.
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73. Understanding the "Ted Bundy Effect" and making strategic decisions
If you've just received a family report that's gotten it completely wrong, this episode is for you. Today we're talking about the "Ted Bundy Effect" in family court - why professionals consistently miss coercive control even when the evidence is right in front of them - and some of the things that need to be considered when you're contemplating whether to settle or proceed to final trial.In this episode:- The "Ted Bundy Effect": why smart professionals get fooled by surface presentation- Research on lie detection and professional bias- Australia's competence crisis in family report writing- What actually happens at final trial (the reality, not the TV version)- The things to consider when weighing up your choices after you receive the family report- Why capacity can matter just as much as evidence when facing trial- The importance of making decisions from clarity rather than fearResources mentioned:- FREE GUIDE: "The Ted Bundy Effect in Family Court: Why Professionals Miss Coercive Control (And What You Can Do About It)" - Download here: https://www.danielleblackcoaching.com.au/free-resource-signup- The Post-Separation Parenting Blueprint - Complete framework for navigating family court with capacity and strategy - Learn more at: https://www.danielleblackcoaching.com.au/the-post-separation-parenting-blueprint-1- "Capacity for Final Trial" PDF - Available in the Blueprint or for purchase separately in the shop: https://www.danielleblackcoaching.com.au/the-shopAbout Danielle Black: Danielle Black is a respected authority in child-focused post-separation parenting in Australia. With over twenty years’ experience in education, counselling and coaching - and her own lived experience navigating a complex separation - she helps parents advocate strategically and protect their children’s safety and wellbeing. Learn more at danielleblackcoaching.com.au. This podcast is for educational purposes only and not legal advice. Please seek independent legal, medical, financial, or mental health advice for your situation.
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72. Capacity for final trial: staying calm & credible in family court
The word “trial” shouldn’t mean losing yourself. When the stakes feel sky-high, your greatest asset is your capacity - your ability to stay calm, credible and relentlessly child-focused during your Family Court trial.In this episode, we explore trauma-informed strategies for regulating under pressure so you can show up steady and strategic when it matters most. We discuss simple daily habits that build real courtroom composure - from breathwork and gentle movement to visualisation that rehearses a steady tone under cross-examination.We share a practical morning ritual to ground your body and mind, plus real-world tips on what to wear, eat, and how to arrive early enough to avoid the anxiety rush. Inside the courtroom, you’ll learn how to pause before you answer, slow your pace, and respond only to the question asked, using calm inner cues like:"I respond, not react""My calm is my power"We also unpack how professionals may assess your capacity during a trial - not "perfection", but rather your ability to think clearly, regulate emotions, and stay child-focused under pressure. Finally, we map a post-court decompression plan so your body can recover instead of replaying every word.If you’re a protective parent preparing for a final trial in the Family Court of Australia, this is your field guide to calm, credibility and capacity.For deeper support, including checklists, daily practices and grounding preparation scripts, explore “Capacity for Final Trial” inside Module 20 of the Post-Separation Parenting Blueprint™, or as a standalone download at danielleblackcoaching.com.auAbout Danielle Black: Danielle Black is a respected authority in child-focused post-separation parenting in Australia. With over twenty years’ experience in education, counselling and coaching - and her own lived experience navigating a complex separation - she helps parents advocate strategically and protect their children’s safety and wellbeing. Learn more at danielleblackcoaching.com.au. This podcast is for educational purposes only and not legal advice. Please seek independent legal, medical, financial, or mental health advice for your situation.
The Post-Separation Abuse Podcast - hosted by Danielle Black, Australia's leading specialist in child-focused post-separation parenting.This isn't your typical separation, divorce or co-parenting podcast. We tackle the hard truths about what happens when separation involves family violence, high-conflict dynamics, and ongoing abuse - and most importantly, how to protect your children when the flawed Australian 'system' lets you down.Each episode challenges the dangerous myths that keep women and children in harmful situations. From exposing why Australia's love affair with 50/50 parenting arrangements is hurting Australian kids, to revealing how post-separation abuse operates through parenting arrangements - this is where protective parents get the evidence-based guidance they desperately need.Putting children first after separation - even when that means challenging professionals, fighting inappropriate arrangements, and refusing to accept "compromise" solutions that damage your children's development and wellbeing.Raw, unfiltered, and research-backed. Because your children's wellbeing matters more than adult concepts of "fairness." Transform from confused to confident in your post-separation parenting decisions. Join The Post-Separation Parenting Blueprint waitlist for exclusive early access, early bird pricing, and instant free mini-guide and private podcast episode. Join the waitlist todayReady to make child-focused decisions with confidence? Visit danielleblackcoaching.com.au to learn more about how we can help.
Ireland