You Can’t Talk to Your Lawyer Like They’re Your Friend

Family court is a system that doesn’t run on empathy — and that can be one of the hardest realities for survivors to face. In this episode, I share the lessons I’ve learned about communicating with attorneys while navigating years of custody battles and post-separation abuse.

You’ll hear why sending every message, email, or update in real time can backfire, how to frame patterns in a way that lawyers and judges can’t ignore, and what it means to “play chess instead of checkers” when you’re up against an abusive ex. I also talk about the impossible balancing act survivors are forced into: document everything, but don’t be “too emotional.”

If you’ve ever felt dismissed, minimized, or like your lawyer just doesn’t get it, this conversation will give you strategies to shift how you present your case — without abandoning your truth.