About Picking Up the Pieces - Therapy Conversations with Joanna Seidel
Joanna Seidel, MSW, RSW, Acc.FM, is the founder of Toronto Family Therapy & Mediation, a practice with over 20 years of experience helping thousands of individuals and families in Ontario. As a family therapist, parenting therapist, and accredited family mediator, she brings expert insights and real-life stories from the front lines of child and family therapy, separation and divorce therapy, and couples therapy. In each episode, Joanna is joined by team members to explore a wide range of topics, from co-parenting after divorce to supporting children's mental health through family transitions. Whether you're a parent, partner, or professional, tune in for compassionate advice, proven tools, and meaningful conversations that support emotional well-being and healthy family connections.
#6 | When a Child Refuses to See a Parent After Separation - Keren Wisniewski & Nicole Khaitman & Joanna Seidel
Parent child contact problems are one of the most misunderstood areas of family therapy, and the Toronto Family Therapy & Mediation team sees them in the clinic every single day. In this episode, Joanna Seidel, MSW, RSW, Acc. FM sits down with two of the clinic's family therapists, Keren Wisniewski, MSW, RSW and Nicole Khaitman, MSW, RSW, to talk about what really happens when a child becomes reluctant, resistant or completely unwilling to see one of their parents after separation or divorce. There is rarely a single explanation. Sometimes the resistance is justified. Sometimes it is not. The conversation covers both, without starting from the question of whose fault it is. What this episode covers:
The spectrum of reasons a child pulls away from a parent, from problematic parenting and abuse to preference, developmental stage and alienating behaviours
What a resistant child actually looks like, including stomach aches before transitions, rigidity and teenagers who arrive with a list of grievances
Why accountability from the rejected parent is the first step in any repair and why so many parents struggle to give it
Validation does not mean agreement: how parents can take ownership of how they made a child feel without conceding every point
How to tell when a child's voice is their own and when it is not (a 10 year old who talks about arbitration and child support is a red flag)
Why an 8 year old, a 14 year old or even a 16 year old should not carry the decision to cut off a parent, and what that choice can look like 15 years later
What reintegration therapy actually involves: individual sessions with each parent, sessions with the child, co-parenting work and whole family sessions
Two real reintegration cases, including a 12 year old who went from refusing contact with her father to resuming overnights
Why reintegration therapy and co-parenting work are not suitable for every family
The one thing parents should do the moment they notice resistance: do not wait and do not run to lawyers first
21 Jul 2026
#5 | Sarah Nahum & Joanna Seidel: How to Raise Good Kids, Not Just Well-Behaved Ones
What does it really mean to raise a good kid, not just a well-behaved one? In this episode, Joanna Seidel, MSW, RSW, Acc.FM, sits down with clinical therapist Sarah Nahum, MBA, MSW, RSW, to talk about teaching children emotional regulation, why all emotions are okay but all behaviours are not, and how modelling resilience shapes the adults our children become. This episode is full of practical strategies for parents, from the 80/20 rule of imperfect parenting to the power of repair. A conversation from Toronto Family Therapy & Mediation.
For more resources on child therapy, family therapy, separation and divorce support, and parenting counselling in Ontario, visit torontofamilytherapist.com (https://torontofamilytherapist.com/)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
What is high-conflict co-parenting, and how can you protect your children from the emotional fallout? In this episode, Joanna Seidel, MSW, Acc.FM, sits down with clinical therapist Nicole Khaitman, MSW, RSW, to talk about setting boundaries after divorce, managing different co-parenting styles, and keeping your child's mental health and well-being at the centre. This episode is full of practical strategies for parents navigating separation and divorce. A conversation from Toronto Family Therapy & Mediation.
For more resources on child therapy, family therapy, separation and divorce support, and parenting counselling in Ontario, visit torontofamilytherapist.com (https://torontofamilytherapist.com/)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
17 Nov 2025
#3 | Melissa Frishling, Regina Kotoviets & Joanna Seidel: ADHD in Children, Teens and Adults
What does ADHD actually look like in children, teens, and adults? In this episode, clinical therapists Melissa Frishling, MSW, RSW, and Regina Kotoviets, BSW, RSW, B.Ed., M.Ed., ECE, join Joanna Seidel, MSW, RSW, Acc.FM to discuss how ADHD presents differently across life stages, the signs parents should watch for, and how therapy can help. A conversation from Toronto Family Therapy & Mediation in Ontario.
For more resources on child therapy, family therapy, separation and divorce support, and parenting counselling in Ontario, visit torontofamilytherapist.com (https://torontofamilytherapist.com/)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
25 Sept 2025
#2 | Rebecca Skippen & Joanna Seidel: Supporting Children Through Separation & Divorce
How can parents support children who live in two homes after separation and divorce? In this episode, child therapist Rebecca Skippen, MSW, RSW, joins Joanna Seidel, MSW, RSW, Acc.FM to discuss how divorce affects children, what co-parenting strategies help kids feel secure, and when to consider child therapy. Whether you're navigating shared custody or helping your child adjust to a new family structure, this conversation offers practical guidance from the team at Toronto Family Therapy & Mediation in Ontario.
For more resources on child therapy, family therapy, separation and divorce support, and parenting counselling in Ontario, visit torontofamilytherapist.com (https://torontofamilytherapist.com/)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
14 Aug 2025
#1 | Nicole Khaitman & Joanna Seidel: The Complexities of Marriage and Relationships
What does it really take to navigate the complexities of marriage and relationships? In this episode, clinical therapist Nicole Khaitman, MSW, RSW, joins Joanna Seidel, MSW, RSW, Acc.FM to explore the challenges couples face, from communication breakdowns to rebuilding trust. Drawing on over 20 years of experience in couples therapy and relationship counselling, they share practical insights for anyone working through relational difficulties. A conversation from Toronto Family Therapy & Mediation.
For more resources on child therapy, family therapy, separation and divorce support, and parenting counselling in Ontario, visit torontofamilytherapist.com (https://torontofamilytherapist.com/)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
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