The Effects of Childhood Trauma and Divorce with Guest Dr. Sasha Reiisieh
What happens to a child’s nervous system when they experience divorce, conflict, or emotional disconnection?
In this powerful episode, Michelle Dempsey-Multack sits down with Dr. Sasha Reiisieh, an early childhood trauma expert, to explore how attachment, safety, and co-parenting dynamics shape a child’s emotional world. Together, they unpack what truly causes trauma, and why it’s not the divorce itself, but the absence of safety and repair that leaves lasting scars.
If you’re a parent navigating separation, co-parenting challenges, or simply striving to raise emotionally secure children, this conversation will help you understand how to nurture resilience, connection, and calm, starting with yourself.
What You’ll Learn:
The difference between trauma and traumatic events, and how your child’s body defines the difference
Why a child’s sense of safety is the single greatest predictor of emotional well-being after divorce
How one stable, emotionally regulated caregiver can offset chaos from the other parent
The science behind rupture and repair, and how parents can rebuild emotional trust
Why co-parenting dynamics often trigger old wounds, and how to model emotional balance for your kids
Episode Highlights:
00:00 – Why early attachment shapes lifelong emotional patterns
04:22 – What trauma really is, and why it lives in the body, not the event
09:40 – How caregivers teach the nervous system safety or fear
14:58 – Divorce vs. conflict: what really impacts your child’s well-being
20:31 – The myth of the “resilient child” and how to build true emotional safety
26:47 – The power of one stable parent: creating a foundation of calm
33:04 – How to help kids navigate loyalty binds and co-parenting tension
39:50 – Repairing ruptures and teaching your child emotional regulation
Meet the Guest:
Dr. Sasha Reiisieh is a licensed early childhood trauma therapist and educator with over a decade of experience working with children and families. His research and clinical work focus on how attachment, regulation, and caregiver dynamics shape emotional health from birth through adolescence. Known for his compassionate, no-nonsense approach, Dr. Racy helps parents understand how to create emotional safety even in the face of conflict and change.
Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned:
The Bigger, Stronger, Wiser, and Kind Model – A framework for emotionally attuned parenting
Rupture and Repair – How emotional breaks, when properly addressed, strengthen connection
Somatic Awareness Practices – Helping children and parents regulate through body-based awareness
The “One Good Enough Parent” Principle – The protective power of one stable caregiver
Closing Insight:
“Safety is the foundation of resilience. Your child doesn’t need two perfect parents; they need one emotionally regulated parent who can model calm, love, and connection even in chaos.” – Dr. Sasha Racy
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LINK TO TRANSCRIPT:
https://transcripts/moving-on-method-ep267-healing-after-divorce
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