The UK’s latest family law reform marks progress for children and survivors of domestic abuse but real change requires listening, not just legislation.

Conflict during separation can feel endless but often, it’s not really about the issue at hand. In our latest Conflict to Connection episode, Mitch, Bill, and Bella from Civilised Separations explore how our childhood experiences shape the way we argue and connect as adults.

Divorce doesn’t have to mean conflict. In this episode of Conflict to Connection, Mitch Wilkins speaks with Samantha Woodham, barrister and co-founder of The Divorce Surgery, about rethinking how we separate. From pioneering the One Lawyer, One Couple model to challenging the stigma surrounding divorce, Samantha shares how families can move through separation with fairness, collaboration, and compassion at the centre.

In this Conflict to Connection blog, we share insights from James Pirrie, solicitor, mediator, and Director at Family Law in Partnership (FLiP), who has been pioneering progressive, client-centred approaches in family law for decades. James reflects on how mediation and collaborative practice can help families move beyond adversarial battles, embrace empathy, and create dignified solutions.

Telling your children you’re getting a divorce may be one of the hardest conversations you’ll ever have but it doesn’t have to be damaging. In this Conflict to Connection blog, we share practical strategies for delivering the news with empathy, honesty, and reassurance.

Divorce in the UK is often described as adversarial, focused on blame, and leaving families stuck in cycles of conflict. But does it have to be this way? In this Conflict to Connection blog, we explore what’s wrong with the current system and how approaches like reflection, collaboration, and child-inclusive mediation can offer families a more compassionate path forward.

At Civilised Separations, our goal is simple: to help families have kinder divorces and protect children so they can thrive. That’s why we created Conflict to Connection—a podcast exploring what really happens when relationships end, and how to move forward with less conflict and more connection.