Episode 343: Healing, Resilience, and Redefining Life After Divorce with Dr. Marianna Strongin
The Divorce Survival Guide Podcast
Kate Anthony
4.4 • 573 Ratings
🗓️ 5 November 2025
⏱️ 49 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
If you've ever found yourself in that painful in-between of "I can't stay, but I don't know how to move forward," my hope is that this episode will feel like a big exhale. I'm joined by Dr. Marianna Strongin, licensed clinical psychologist, child of divorce, and the mental health expert at My Next Chapter, where she and I have been collaborating to support people through every stage of divorce.
In this episode, we talk about finding your footing in uncertainty - as a parent, as a partner letting go, and as a person rebuilding a life. Marianna and I explore co-parenting dynamics, the fear of staying and leaving, teaching kids to trust and use their voice, and using mindfulness to stay with yourself instead of spiraling into "what ifs." We also discuss how returning to your values becomes a grounding compass, and how self-trust rebuilds slowly, one honest step at a time.
You don't have to rush or have it all figured out, but do you get to take the next right step toward a life that feels like yours again.
✨ If you'd like to watch the video version of this episode, you can find it here.
What you'll hear about in this episode:
-
How being a child of divorce informed Marianna's work (2:40)
-
Why values work clears everything up, especially when you're stuck (16:06)
-
Mindfulness as a here-and-now practice (not perfectionism) (17:36)
-
The My Next Chapter coaching platform and why expert collaboration matters (23:11)
-
Co-parenting and rooting every decision in your child's wellbeing + teaching kids to use their voice and advocate for themselves (29:49)
-
Rebuilding after divorce by asking: "What do I want?" and starting small (41:38)
Learn more about Dr. Marianna Strongin: Dr. Marianna Strongin is a licensed clinical psychologist who treats adults for Mood and Anxiety Disorders. In addition, Dr. Strongin treats relationship, financial, family and workplace problems. Through exploration of feelings, behaviors and life choices Dr. Strongin helps clients become STRONGER and more confident individuals.
Dr. Strongin serves as an adjunct supervisor at the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, where she mentors and supervises the next generation of mental health professionals. Her work has been featured in prestigious publications such as The New York Times, CNN, Forbes, and the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
In addition, Dr. Strongin writes a weekly column for Survivornet called Strong in Cancer, offering valuable mental health advice for the cancer community. She also advises various mental health startups, contributing her expertise to innovative approaches in the field.
Resources & Links:
Focused Strategy Sessions with Kate
The Divorce Survival Guide Resource Bundle
Phoenix Rising: A Divorce Empowerment Collective
Kate on Instagram
Kate on Facebook
Kate's Substack Newsletter: Divorce Coaching Dispatch
The Divorce Survival Guide Podcast Episodes are also available YouTube!
My Next Chapter - Use code DSG to receive $30 off your first month
Dr. Marianna's website
Dr. Strongin on Instagram @Strong_in_therapy @drmariannastrongin
===================
DISCLAIMER: THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL OR PSYCHOLOGICAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY, COACH, OR THERAPIST IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN ADVICE WITH RESPECT TO ANY PARTICULAR ISSUE OR PROBLEM.
===================
Episode link: https://kateanthony.com/podcast/episode-343-healing-resilience-and-redefining-life-after-divorce-with-dr-marianna-strongin/
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | And I think when somebody goes through something like a divorce, which takes time to go through, |
| 0:05.4 | the beautiful part about it is that they come to a place where they get to really ask themselves, |
| 0:12.3 | now what do I want? |
| 0:14.0 | That's so beautiful. |
| 0:15.2 | I mean, when do we ever get a chance to really say that? |
| 0:17.7 | When we say that to ourselves in our 20s and early 30s, we're too afraid to really |
| 0:21.4 | ask ourselves those things. You know, when people are just going through it and, you know, find themselves, you know, living by themselves for the first time or with their kids, I start small. You know, I ask them, you know, what are some of the small wants? What are the cravings? What are the new routines. And then we kind of build from that. And that's really empowering is to be able to say, |
| 0:39.9 | I want and then follow. cravings, what are the new routines? And then we kind of build from that. And that's really |
| 0:38.5 | empowering, is to be able to say, I want and then follow through on that. |
| 0:46.7 | Welcome to the Divorce Survival Guide podcast, where we have open and honest conversations about |
| 0:53.2 | co-parenting, separation, divorce, and the |
| 0:56.5 | hardest question of all, should you stay or should you go? I'm Kate Anthony, your divorce survival |
| 1:03.3 | guide, and I'm here to help you navigate some of the roughest waters you've ever swum in and answer |
| 1:09.0 | some of your toughest questions. I've been to hell and back. |
| 1:12.8 | And now it's my mission in life to help you get to the other side of this process with your sanity and your heart intact. |
| 1:25.6 | Hey everyone, welcome back. Today I am joined by Dr. Mariana Strongen. She is a licensed clinical psychologist, founder of Strongin therapy, which I love. I love the play on words there. And she is the mental health expert at my |
| 1:46.0 | next chapter. She has spent the last 15 years helping people recognize and understand |
| 1:51.8 | unhealthy life patterns so they can move through transition with more clarity, confidence, and |
| 1:57.1 | resilience. We love that. I'm really excited about this conversation because Mariana and I have |
| 2:03.1 | been collaborating on my next chapter's brand new one-on-one premium coaching program, which is |
| 2:10.8 | really a first of its kind. And it brings together, as you guys know, I've been talking about |
| 2:15.5 | this expert legal, financial, and emotional support |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Kate Anthony, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Kate Anthony and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.