Bent Not Broken: Starting Over After Divorce | Post Divorce Life

In this episode, Coach Deborah sits down with Dr. Robin Buckley , executive coach, PhD in clinical psychology, and author of Marriage, Inc. Dr. Robin blends business strategy, cognitive behavioral tools, and lived experience from two divorces to help people heal after separation and create intentional, healthier relationships. We explore how to move from emotion-driven reactions to strategic think...

In this Bent Not Broken bonus coaching session, Coach Deborah expands on the powerful insights shared with therapist and author Oona Metz, LICSW , diving into the emotional and identity shifts women face during gray divorce . This episode explores how long-term marriage shapes a woman’s identity, why the “wasted years” narrative keeps women stuck, and how to release guilt and reframe the past with...

Today’s guest is Oona Metz , a licensed clinical social worker, certified group psychotherapist, and Fellow of the American Group Psychotherapy Association. With 30+ years of experience supporting women through major life transitions, Una brings deep insight into one of the fastest-growing divorce trends: gray divorce . We explore why divorce rates for couples over 50 have doubled, how identity sh...

In this Bent Not Broken bonus coaching session, Deborah breaks down the biggest lessons from her conversation with empowerment teacher David Alan Brown —and turns them into practical tools for anyone rebuilding after divorce, trauma, emotional shutdown, or major life transition. David’s journey from numbness and suicidal ideation to rediscovery and empowerment highlights what happens when we lose...

In this episode of Bent Not Broken , Deborah talks with David Alan Brown , writer, empowerment teacher, and creator of The Convergent Conversation —a method that helps people reconnect with their emotional, behavioral, and spiritual voices to rebuild clarity, confidence, and purpose. David shares his powerful journey from years of depression, numbness, and suicidal ideation to rediscovering his id...

In this Bent Not Broken bonus coaching episode , Coach Deborah reflects on powerful lessons from her conversation with author Terry M. Brown and what truly happens after leaving a long-term emotionally abusive marriage . This episode is for anyone navigating emotional abuse recovery, gaslighting recovery, financial control, divorce healing, and post-divorce life . Coach Deborah breaks down how emo...

In this inspiring episode of Bent Not Broken , Coach Deborah sits down with Teri M. Brown , award-winning author and survivor of emotional and financial abuse , to share her powerful journey of healing, self-discovery, and resilience. Teri opens up about leaving a 14-year emotionally abusive marriage , where manipulation, isolation, and financial control slowly eroded her confidence and sense of s...

In this Bent Not Broken bonus coaching episode , Coach Deborah reflects on key insights from her powerful conversation with Kristen Crabtree , certified divorce coach and creator of the Paramore Paradox . Kristen spent 22 years in a psychologically abusive marriage , and her story sheds light on how emotional abuse and gaslighting quietly impact identity, confidence, and self-trust. In this episod...

In this powerful episode of Bent Not Broken , Coach Deborah sits down with Kristen Crabtree , certified divorce coach, author of Be the You That’s More You Than You’ve Ever Been , and creator of the Paramour Paradox . Kristen shares her deeply personal story of surviving 22 years in a psychologically abusive same-sex marriage , where silence replaced disagreement and survival strategies replaced s...

In this Bent Not Broken bonus coaching episode , Coach Deborah unpacks the most powerful insights from her conversation with intuitive psychic author and coach Susan Jane , who has over 20 years of experience helping people reconnect with their intuition after emotional abuse, trauma, and divorce . If you’re healing after heartbreak or learning to trust yourself again, this episode offers gentle,...

In this episode of Bent Not Broken , Coach Deborah explores intuition, resilience, and starting over after divorce with intuitive expert Susan Jane. With over 20 years of spiritual insight, Susan shares how intuition supports divorce healing , heartbreak recovery , and starting over after trauma —especially for women navigating life after divorce , life after separation , or healing from gaslighti...

In this Bent Not Broken bonus coaching session, Coach Deborah expands on the powerful insights shared by RTT practitioner and trauma survivor Samantha Mandell . This episode is designed to help women navigating divorce recovery , heartbreak healing , gaslighting recovery , or starting over after trauma . Learn how trauma hides in the body, how limiting beliefs formed during childhood shape your re...

In today’s episode of Bent Not Broken , Coach Deborah explores a powerful starting over after trauma story with Samantha Mandell , whose journey through functional seizures (PNES) became a profound path toward healing after heartbreak , rebuilding identity, and reclaiming life . Samantha shares how her life-altering diagnosis led her to Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) —a modality that acceler...

In this Bent Not Broken bonus episode, Coach Deborah reflects on her powerful conversation with retired police sergeant and bestselling author Patrick O’Donnell, who shared that after 30 years of service, nothing was more challenging than his divorce. This episode offers insight and divorce healing , guidance for starting over after divorce , navigating separation recovery , and rebuilding life af...

In this powerful episode of Bent Not Broken , I sit down with Patrick O’Donnell — retired Milwaukee police sergeant, bestselling author of Divorced Dad: Kids Are Forever, Wives Are Not , and host of the Cops and Writers Podcast — to talk about life after divorce , starting over after trauma , and rebuilding a life from broken to boldness. Patrick shares raw insight on divorce healing, co-parenting...

In this bonus episode of Bent Not Broken , Coach Deborah revisits the most powerful moments from her conversation with award-winning author and survivor Mia J. Hanks , whose memoir Bridemaid reveals the hidden reality of her nearly 30-year marriage to a covert narcissist. This episode is about starting over after trauma , healing from gaslighting , divorce and healing , and rebuilding life after d...

In this special bonus episode of Bent Not Broken , Deborah Griffiths of Broken to Boldness shares her personal journey of starting over after trauma , heartbreak recovery , and divorce healing . After years in a broken relationship and healing from gaslighting , Deborah chose to reclaim her life , begin post-divorce healing , and step boldly into life after divorce . She shares practical recovery...

In this powerful episode of Law Enforcement Talk Radio , retired police sergeant John Jay Wiley speaks with Deborah Griffiths, founder of Broken to Boldness , about her journey of starting over after trauma , healing from gaslighting , and rebuilding life after divorce . After waking up in a psychiatric ward following a suicide attempt, Deborah realized her environment was destroying her mental he...

In this Bent Not Broken bonus episode, Coach Deborah reflects on her inspiring conversation with therapist and author Stacy Schaffer . Together, they explore how true healing begins when we stop trying to erase the past and start integrating it. Key Takeaways: Reconnect with your inner child by asking, “What did my younger self need to hear?” Deepen relationships with the question, “Help me unders...

Award-winning author Mia J. Hanks joins Coach Deborah to share her powerful journey of surviving nearly 30 years with a covert narcissist —a partner who appeared perfect in public but was emotionally abusive behind closed doors. Through her memoir Bride-maid , Mia offers hope to survivors struggling to understand why love can feel like control. She reveals how writing became her healing tool , how...

In this Bent Not Broken bonus episode, Coach Deborah reflects on her inspiring conversation with Wendy Babcock , a woman who turned emotional abuse and divorce into a story of strength and purpose. Wendy’s journey reminds us that healing isn’t about forgetting what broke you — it’s about rising stronger because of it. Deborah breaks the episode into five empowering segments with actionable coachin...

In this bonus episode of Bent Not Broken , Coach Deborah dives deeper into her powerful conversation with Julie Loken , exploring how television and media have influenced our ideas about family, love, and divorce — often without us even realizing it. From I Love Lucy to The Kardashians , the stories we grew up watching shaped our beliefs about what “normal” should look like. But as Deborah reminds...

Healing the Child Within with Stacy Schaffer In this heartfelt episode of Bent Not Broken , Coach Deborah sits down with Stacy Schaffer , a licensed professional counselor, trauma survivor, and author of With Love from a Children’s Therapist . With over 20 years of experience helping children and teens heal from grief and trauma, Stacy brings a unique perspective — one that bridges lived experienc...

In this special bonus coaching session, Coach Deborah dives deeper into the lessons from her powerful conversation with Kerry Brett —master photographer, dating strategist, and author of Shot at Love . Kerry’s story goes far beyond dating; it’s about rediscovering your worth and creating a life—and love—that feels safe, authentic, and aligned. Whether you’re healing from divorce, recovering from b...

In this Bent Not Broken Bonus Episode , Coach Deborah takes a heartfelt dive into her powerful conversation with Kindra Foley —a mother, advocate, and survivor whose story of parental alienation turned heartbreak into purpose. Parental alienation is one of the most painful and misunderstood experiences a parent can endure. In this episode, Coach Deborah unpacks Kindra’s story and shares five key l...