Recent Posts in Mental Health Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 6-Jul-2022 Help Me! I Need to Divorce a Narcissist! That was the phone message I received over the 4 th of July weekend! It’s a request I hear very often. But divorcing a narcissist takes strength and skill! Are you ready? There are various healthy traits of narcissism in all of us. But then ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 17-Jun-2022 Do You Need Help Divorcing a Spouse With a Personality Disorder? If you need help divorcing a spouse with a personality disorder, I am here to help. Are you anxious, confused, living in fear, walking on egg shells and feeling lost in your marriage? As a psychologically-trained divorce attorney, I can tell you ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 11-May-2022 Call Me if You Want to Divorce a Spouse With a Personality Disorder! For over 35 years as a divorce attorney and psychologically-trained mediator, I uniquely guide couples, especially those with personality disorders, towards healthy, less painful, dignified divorces. Many of the couples I work with complain that ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 29-Apr-2022 Is Your Marriage Making You Depressed? Have you wondered why you are always sad and feeling so bad? Do you think your marriage is making you depressed? Depression can make you feel tired, and like you are living under a cloud. You have no interest in activities and have dark thoughts ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 25-Apr-2022 Are Mental Health Issues Destroying Your Marriage? After living through a pandemic and losing loved ones and friends, there is an immediate need to address mental health issues plaguing marriages. We see all kinds of people suffering with mental health issues in the news, but do you know many ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 11-Apr-2022 Are You Ready to Divorce Your Spouse With a Personality Disorder? Are you ready to divorce your spouse with a personality disorder? If you are, I’m here to help! Is your marriage surrounded by chaos, hostility, conflict, frustration, and lots of drama? Are your efforts to improve the situation constantly ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 21-Mar-2022 Is Your Spouse a Psychopath? As a psychologically trained divorce attorney and mediator for more than 35 years, I have helped many spouses escape the clutches of a psychopathic partner. Psychopaths tend to be extremely charming, and often secretly ruining the lives of the very ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 11-Mar-2022 Do You Need Help Managing Depression and Anxiety During Your Divorce? Depression and anxiety during divorce is not unusual. As a divorce attorney and psychologically trained mediator, I hear from spouses all the time about their depression and anxiety. The pain, turmoil and chaos of divorce for some can be terrifying! ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 16-Feb-2022 Are Any of These Personality Disorders Destroying Your Marriage? Is your marriage surrounded by hostility, frustration, drama and chaos? Are your efforts to improve the situation constantly ridiculed and shot down? Do you know that a personality disorder may be destroying your marriage? For more than 35 years as a ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 10-Jan-2022 How Can I Divorce My Depressed Spouse? As a New York divorce attorney and psychologically trained mediator, I hear from a lot of spouses who want a divorce because they have realized they have been living the horrors of being married to a narcissist or sociopath. But there are other ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 17-Dec-2021 Tips for Managing Depression Due to Divorce During the Holidays As a divorce attorney and psychologically trained mediator, I hear from spouses all the time about their depression and anxiety, especially during the holidays. The pain, turmoil and chaos of divorce for many, is terrifying and extremely painful ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 3-Dec-2021 Are You Ready to Divorce the Narcissist in Your Life? As a psychologically trained divorce attorney and mediator, I am uniquely skilled at identifying a narcissistic spouse in a marriage and guiding a spouse carefully to terminate a marriage. Is it impossible to live up to the standards of your spouse? ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 8-Nov-2021 4 Reasons Your Marriage Is Making You Depressed! Have you wondered why you feel so bad? Do you think your marriage is making you depressed? Depression can make you feel tired, and like you are living under a dark cloud. You have no interest in activities and have dark thoughts about yourself and ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 22-Oct-2021 Signs You Are Married to Someone With a Personality Disorder! Is your marriage surrounded by hostility, frustration, drama, and chaos? Are your efforts to improve the situation constantly ridiculed and shot down? As a psychologically trained divorce attorney and mediator, I can tell you there might be a lot ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 4-Oct-2021 Do You Need Help Getting Out of a Verbally Abusive Marriage? “You are always late, now you have made me mad! You’re stupid! You are useless! Why did I ever marry you? Sound familiar? Yes, you are being verbally abused! But you don’t have to take it anymore! Many people who call for a ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 27-Aug-2021 Are You Thinking of Divorcing Your Bipolar Spouse? These are very uncertain times. People already suffering from mental health issues are suffering even more. Couples in unhappy marriages are now pressured by juggling their children’s schooling issues, getting back to work, and managing their ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 16-Aug-2021 10 Signs You May Be Married to a Narcissist! Is it impossible to live up to the standards of your spouse? Are their demands intense? Do they remind you constantly that you are not as smart or as engaging as they are? You are probably married to a narcissist! Narcissism is a personality ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 9-Jul-2021 Is Verbal Abuse Destroying Your Marriage? We see all kinds of abusive relationships in the news but do you know many marriages end today because one party is dealing with mental health issues that result in abusive behaviors that destroy marriages? Today a person facing divorce Googles ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 14-Jun-2021 Can I Divorce a Spouse With a Personality Disorder? Yes, you can! And in many cases you should! If you are suffering in a marriage, being ridiculed, shot down, living in a hostile environment, made to feel less than, you need to save yourself, and get a divorce! As a psychologically trained divorce ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 26-May-2021 Are Mental Health Issues Destroying Your Marriage? Prince Harry and Oprah just aired the first episode of their new mental health documentary series on Apple TV+, “The Me You Can’t See.” It’s a must see! The series features individuals and some high-profile guests living with ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 19-May-2021 Are You Experiencing Divorce Anxiety? Yes, divorce anxiety is a real thing. It’s painful. Comes and goes. And it’s not as uncommon as you think. You are not alone! As a psychologically-trained medical professional, mediator and divorce attorney, I can spot divorce anxiety ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 16-Apr-2021 Divorcing a Spouse With a Personality Disorder! Is your marriage filled with hostility, frustration, drama and chaos? Are your efforts to improve the situation constantly ridiculed and shot down? As a psychologically-trained divorce attorney and mediator, I can tell you there might be a lot more ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 7-Apr-2021 Are You Married to a Psychopath? The typical psychopath as portrayed in the media is often a ruthless serial killer, but the majority of people who exhibit psychopathic traits are much more subtle. That is why marrying a psychopath is possible and not as unusual as one might think. ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 26-Mar-2021 Do You Need Help Divorcing a Narcissist? As a divorce attorney and psychologically-trained mediator, I uniquely guide spouses, especially those married to a spouse with mental health issues, towards safe, compassionate, and dignified divorces. Many spouses I work with complain that a ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 19-Mar-2021 Could Your Spouse Be Bipolar? A divorcing couple met with me virtually 6 months ago for mediation. The wife was a shopaholic and had run up significant credit card debts during the pandemic. She was angry all the time and blew up at the husband and constantly yelled at the ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 29-Jan-2021 Is a Narcissistic Spouse Destroying Your Life? As a divorce attorney and psychologically-trained mediator, I uniquely guide couples, especially those with behavioral problems, towards dignified divorces. Many of the couples I work with complain that narcissism is an unhealthy third party in their ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 23-Dec-2020 Are You Suffering from Divorce Anxiety? As a psychologically-trained medical professional, mediator, and divorce attorney, I can spot divorce anxiety right away. I often hear and see the symptoms before my clients do. Why wouldn’t divorce be stressful? There are so many negative ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 21-Dec-2020 Are You Being Verbally Abused? Are you walking on eggshells? Criticized? Being isolated? Then you may be in an abusive relationship. This is a lot more common than you may think, and there is a way out! Many spouses who consult with me start telling me their marriage stories of ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 7-Dec-2020 Is COVID-19 Affecting Your Bipolar Spouse? These are very difficult times. People already suffering from mental health issues are suffering even more. Couples in unhappy marriages are now pressured by losing their jobs, juggling their childrens’ schooling issues, and managing their ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 21-Oct-2020 Tips for Managing Depression and Anxiety During Divorce As a divorce attorney and psychologically-trained mediator, I hear from spouses all the time about their depression and anxiety. The pain, turmoil, and chaos of divorce can be terrifying to some. Unfortunately, depression and anxiety are not unusual ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 7-Oct-2020 Taking Your First Divorce Step! When did you start thinking about divorce? Was it during the coronavirus pandemic? Was it because of finances, fighting, infidelity, control issues, social media postings, or did you simply fall out of love? Couples don’t just wake up one day ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 5-Oct-2020 What is a Statement of Net Worth? What is a Statement of Net Worth? When divorcing, a Statement of Net Worth is that annoying financial form your attorney/mediator sticks in front of you and says, “Fill it out!” You look at it, start sweating, and think, “Oh no! ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 2-Oct-2020 Is Your Spouse Bipolar? A divorcing couple met with me virtually for mediation. The husband had significant outstanding credit card bills. He also drank quite a bit. The wife wanted a divorce and they had one child. Whenever we had a meeting, the husband dominated the ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 30-Sep-2020 5 Warning Signs You Are In an Unhealthy Relationship! As a psychologically-trained divorce attorney and mediator, I can often spot the signs of an unhealthy relationship. My advice in some cases is to seek therapy. In other cases, I strongly suggest they consider divorce. After speaking with a spouse ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 28-Sep-2020 Are You Married to a Psychopath? As a psychologically-trained divorce attorney and mediator, I meet all kinds of people in tumultuous marriages suffering from various forms of mental illness. Many spouses don’t realize mental health issues are destroying the fabric of their ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 11-Sep-2020 Is Poor Mental Health Destroying Your Marriage? We see all kinds of abusive relationships in the news but do you know many marriages end today because one party is dealing with mental health issues that result in abusive behaviors that destroy marriages? Today a person facing divorce Googles ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 4-Sep-2020 Are You a Man in an Abusive Relationship? As a psychologically trained divorce attorney and mediator, I have worked with a few men in the last six months who all found themselves in very emotionally abusive, and sometimes physically abusive, relationships with their wives. The abuse was ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 31-Aug-2020 5 Signs You Are Married to Someone with a Personality Disorder Is your marriage surrounded by hostility, frustration, drama, and chaos? Are your efforts to improve the situation constantly ridiculed and shot down? As a psychologically trained divorce attorney and mediator, I can tell you there might be a lot ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 21-Aug-2020 6 Steps to End a Toxic Marriage Relationships that have unhealthy patterns like abuse, infidelity, addictions, and so on, are more common than you think. This is a serious problem, and its affects can be paralyzing. Lots of people on the outside often wonder why you stay in an ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 14-Aug-2020 BEWARE! It's Time to Divorce the Narcissist In Your Life! Aren’t we all slightly narcissistic? The answer is, “Yes.” There are various healthy traits of narcissism in many of us. But then there is the actual diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder. As a psychologically-trained ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 31-Jul-2020 3 Tips for Managing Divorce Anxiety Yes, divorce anxiety is a real thing! Divorce conjures up all kinds of stress, and fear! As a psychologically-trained medical professional and divorce attorney, I can spot divorce anxiety right away. I often see the symptoms before my clients do. Why ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 10-Jul-2020 5 Signs Your Spouse has a Personality Disorder! As a psychologically-trained divorce attorney and mediator, I receive many calls from spouses who talk about their marriages that are filled with drama, hostility, verbal abuse, and high intensity. When I hear some of these descriptions, I often ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 6-Jul-2020 I Want a Divorce. Should I Move Out? The answer is usually, “No!” I tell clients never to leave their home. Making this move can work against you when divorcing if not properly strategized. I often hear from clients that once divorce is in the air it is extremely difficult ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 3-Jul-2020 How to Tell Your Spouse You Want a Divorce! A player from a major league baseball team called my office and scheduled a phone consultation. His wife seemed to have bipolar disorder and/or depression. He had tried to cope with it for many years, especially as he was on the road a lot, but he ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 1-Jul-2020 What to Do When Your Husband Wants a Divorce! It is not unusual for a wife to all of a sudden hear from her husband that he wants a divorce. There can be a lot of factors influencing a partner to come to this decision; another woman, a midlife crisis; and sometimes financial difficulties. ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 26-Jun-2020 Are You Wavering About Your Divorce? It's a big decision. You've been thinking about it for a long time. Should I? Shouldn't I? Yes, I really should. But what will it mean? How do I tell my spouse? These are the questions I often hear from people who consult with me. Usually ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 8-Jun-2020 Child Custody Challenges During the Pandemic! As a divorce attorney and mediator with over 35 years of experience, I’ve seen it all! Nothing surprises me. But divorce cases I am handling during COVID -19 have been real eye-openers. Fortunately, I have some great solutions!! A devoted dad, ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 5-Jun-2020 Divorce Mediation - The Peaceful Alternative! During these difficult times of medical confusion, loss of jobs, and socially painful unrest, as a divorce attorney and mediator, I am happy to offer spouses a peaceful approach to divorce. It gives me great pleasure to offer a productive alternative ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 27-May-2020 6 Mistakes to Avoid in a High Net Worth Divorce Divorce is never easy, but divorces involving large amounts of money, property, and other assets are even more challenging. In addition to the types of issues present in typical divorces, such as spousal and child support, child custody, visitation ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 22-May-2020 Did You Know a Postnuptial Agreement can Save Your Marriage? Getting married is very exciting! Spring is that time of year when brides are eagerly gearing up for their June weddings and all the glitz, glamour and drama that a wedding brings virtually in this new world in which we are living! But what about the ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 20-May-2020 3 Tips for Handling Divorce Anxiety! Yes, divorce anxiety is a real thing. As a psychologically-trained medical professional, mediator and divorce attorney, I can spot divorce anxiety right away. I often hear and see the symptoms before my clients do. Why wouldn’t divorce be ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 18-May-2020 5 Tips to Help You Talk to Your Spouse about Divorce while in Quarantine Kevin and Laurie have been married for 15 years. They have a 6 year old daughter with behavioral problems. Kevin is a financial planner, and Laurie works part-time as a computer programmer. For the past 2 years, Kevin has been concerned that his wife ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 15-May-2020 Men Get Abused Too! When we think of spousal abuse we often hear the wife is being abused, but men get abused too! I have worked with a few men in the last six months who all found themselves in very emotionally abusive relationships with their wives. The abuse then ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 11-May-2020 How are You Handling Your Marital Issues During this Pandemic? With social distancing our “new normal” and many states maintaining a shelter-in-place mandate, unhappy couples are stuck at home with no escape. With school cancelled, no babysitters to help, working at home, caring for children and ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 6-May-2020 Is Your Spouse Depressed? As a New York divorce attorney and psychologically-trained mediator I hear from a lot of spouses who want a divorce because they have realized they have been living the horrors of being married to a narcissist or sociopath. But there are other ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 1-May-2020 Divorcing Safely During a Pandemic! Being quarantined together is difficult even for those of us in good relationships. For couples going through divorce, or about to go through divorce and in a dysfunctional relationship, it’s a nightmare! Right now, due to the Corona virus ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 24-Apr-2020 Are You a High Conflict Couple? As a divorce attorney and mediator I can tell you divorce litigation is very rarely a positive process. Mediated and negotiated settlements are increasingly popular especially among divorcing couples in today’s COVID-19 climate. A high conflict ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 20-Apr-2020 4 Financial Mistakes to Avoid When Divorcing During this Panic! 1.) NOT CONSIDERING MEDIATION: ESPECIALLY NOW ! If there is any chance you and your spouse can work together in an amicable way - consider mediation ! Even if you are angry with each other mediation can work. Mediation will save you time and ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 10-Apr-2020 5 Ways to Stay Sane While Locked Up in an Unhappy Marriage During the Coronavirus Pandemic! The coronavirus has changed our everyday lives beyond our understanding. We are all trying to be strong, go with the flow, and find creative ways to cope. Then there are those of us unhappily locked up with our spouse or significant other in an ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 3-Apr-2020 Are You Married to a Narcissist? As a divorce attorney and psychologically-trained mediator I uniquely guide couples, especially those with behavioral problems, towards dignified divorces. Many of the couples I work with complain that narcissism is an unhealthy third party in their ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 30-Mar-2020 Are You Living in a Miserable Marriage? It's Time to GET OUT! You may have been living in an unhappy marriage and just not gotten the courage to do anything about it. It's easy to keep putting it off because you know it will be unpleasant. But now, due to the coronavirus pandemic, you are stuck at home 24/7 ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 27-Mar-2020 Can Mediation Help Your Domestic Partnership? As a divorce attorney and mediator for over 35 years I have helped thousands of couples in all kinds of relationships. You may be thinking, “What is a domestic partnership?” In New York, a domestic partnership is defined as a legal ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 17-Mar-2020 Are You Thinking of Divorcing During the Coronavirus Pandemic? I know that thinking about or getting a divorce, under the best of circumstances, is an overwhelming experience. Divorcing while dealing with the Coronavirus is the last thing you need. Unfortunately, anger, abuse, infidelity, neglect, and ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 12-Feb-2020 4 Valentine's Day - Healthy Marriage Tips! As you know Valentine’s Day is Friday! Yay!! Traditionally couples in the millions get engaged on this day. Being a divorce attorney and psychologically-trained mediator in the love and divorce business for over thirty-five years, sadly, I ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 10-Feb-2020 What to Do when your Spouse Wants a Divorce! It is not unusual for a spouse to hear with no warning from the other that they want a divorce. There can be a lot of factors influencing a partner to come to this decision; another woman or man, a midlife crisis, psychological issues and sometimes ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 3-Feb-2020 Tips to Avoid Divorce Disasters When people decide to divorce it is usually in the whirlwind of heightened emotion. People are not always thinking rationally in this mindset. I often caution clients not to be reactive when thinking about divorcing. I suggest they stop, think and ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 22-Jan-2020 Is Your Spouse Spying on You? Do you ever feel like you are being watched? Well, maybe you are. I have had clients share with me their suspicions, and no they weren’t paranoid, they were correct. Even though you trust your spouse, do you know if they trust you? I had a ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 13-Jan-2020 10 Signs You are in a Verbally Abusive Relationship! Many people who come to me for a consultation have no idea that they are in a verbally abusive relationship. They know that something is wrong, but they can't put their finger on it. As a psychologically-trained divorce attorney I can identify ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 30-Dec-2019 Tips to Divorce-Proof your Relationship in the New Year! New Years is right around the corner. Traditionally, many couples get engaged on New Year’s Eve. Being an attorney in the field of family law for more than thirty-five years, I expect that some of the New Year’s engagements will end in ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 11-Dec-2019 5 Tips for Co-Parenting During the Holidays! The greatest wish of many children of divorce during the holidays is that Mom and Dad will get back together. Even though the sad truth is that this probably is not going to happen, you as responsible parents can cooperate, and make the holidays as ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 2-Dec-2019 4 Tips for Handling Divorce Anxiety During the Holidays! Yes, divorce anxiety is a real thing. As a psychologically-trained medical professional and divorce attorney, I can spot divorce anxiety right away. I often see the symptoms before my clients do. Why wouldn’t divorce be stressful? There are so ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 19-Nov-2019 Are You Living with a Controlling Spouse? My new client seemed very anxious and started twirling her hair around her finger. She started by telling me that she was very concerned because her husband kept separate bank accounts and he was cutting down on the “spending” money he ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 11-Nov-2019 Could your Spouse be Bipolar? A divorcing couple came to see me for mediation. The husband had significant outstanding credit card bills. He also drank quite a bit. The wife wanted a divorce and they had one child. Whenever we had a meeting, the husband dominated the meeting, ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 6-Nov-2019 5 Signs you are Married to a Psychopath! As a divorce attorney I meet all kinds of people from all walks of life. I have found many clients don’t always realize the kind of person they are married to. For example, some clients are married to someone with a character disorder and they ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 22-Oct-2019 5 Signs You are in an Unhealthy Relationship! As a psychologically-trained divorce attorney I can often spot the signs of an unhealthy relationship even before my clients do. My advice in some cases is to seek therapy, in others I strongly suggest they consider divorce. If you see yourself ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 15-Oct-2019 IS YOUR SPOUSE A NARCISSIST? You would be very surprised to learn that psychological problems plague many divorcing couples today, and they don’t even know it. That is until now! When you look at the complex issues that infect families like verbal and physical abuse, ... Continue Reading Posted By Lois M. Brenner, Esq. 18-Sep-2019 Poor Mental Health Destroys Marriages! We see all kinds of abusive relationships in the news but do you know many marriages end today because one party is dealing with mental health issues that result in abusive behaviors that destroy marriages? Today a person facing divorce Googles ... Continue Reading