Coercion and Power Imbalances in High-Conflict Divorce - with Lyerly Spongberg
Thu Jan 29 2026
"Always try to keep children in the center and out of the middle of whatever that is." - Lyerly Spongberg" - Lyerly Spongberg
Lyerly Spongberg is a dedicated divorce coach whose personal journey through a high-conflict divorce as a single mother deeply informs her professional practice. She views high-conflict divorce as a deeply human experience that affects every aspect of life, from identity and emotional well-being to finances and children. Drawing from her own experiences, Spongberg describes the process as overwhelming, akin to being blindfolded and thrown into a washing machine, emphasizing the need for comprehensive preparation and support during this full-body, full-life transition. By utilizing her expertise as a DCA certified ADR divorce coach and co-parenting specialist, she helps clients navigate these complexities, reduce conflict, and make decisions aligned with their values and future aspirations, with a particular focus on minimizing power imbalances and prioritizing children's well-being.
Key Takeaways
->Divorce is described as overwhelming and depressing, impacting every aspect of life.
->Emotional challenges during divorce include identity crisis, chaos, and grounding oneself.
->Patterns in high-conflict divorces involve power imbalances, coercion, and emotional manipulation.
->Co-parenting after divorce requires prioritizing children's well-being and considering their emotional needs.
->Parallel parenting minimizes conflict exposure for children by reducing interaction between parents.
->Coercive control in divorce affects autonomy, financial control, and emotional abuse.
->Divorce coaches offer support, guidance, and help individuals make clear decisions during the challenging
Connect with Lyerly Spongberg:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyerly-spongberg-2968483/
https://stepupwithlyerly.com/
Connect with Katherine Miller:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kemiller1/
https://miller-law.com/
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"Always try to keep children in the center and out of the middle of whatever that is." - Lyerly Spongberg" - Lyerly Spongberg Lyerly Spongberg is a dedicated divorce coach whose personal journey through a high-conflict divorce as a single mother deeply informs her professional practice. She views high-conflict divorce as a deeply human experience that affects every aspect of life, from identity and emotional well-being to finances and children. Drawing from her own experiences, Spongberg describes the process as overwhelming, akin to being blindfolded and thrown into a washing machine, emphasizing the need for comprehensive preparation and support during this full-body, full-life transition. By utilizing her expertise as a DCA certified ADR divorce coach and co-parenting specialist, she helps clients navigate these complexities, reduce conflict, and make decisions aligned with their values and future aspirations, with a particular focus on minimizing power imbalances and prioritizing children's well-being. Key Takeaways ->Divorce is described as overwhelming and depressing, impacting every aspect of life. ->Emotional challenges during divorce include identity crisis, chaos, and grounding oneself. ->Patterns in high-conflict divorces involve power imbalances, coercion, and emotional manipulation. ->Co-parenting after divorce requires prioritizing children's well-being and considering their emotional needs. ->Parallel parenting minimizes conflict exposure for children by reducing interaction between parents. ->Coercive control in divorce affects autonomy, financial control, and emotional abuse. ->Divorce coaches offer support, guidance, and help individuals make clear decisions during the challenging Connect with Lyerly Spongberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyerly-spongberg-2968483/ https://stepupwithlyerly.com/ Connect with Katherine Miller: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kemiller1/ https://miller-law.com/