In this insightful episode, Joanna Toch speaks with Louize Yafai, a breakup, divorce, and domestic abuse coach. Louize shares her personal journey through an acrimonious divorce and how it inspired her to become a coach. She discusses the emotional rollercoaster of divorce, strategies for emotional regulation, the importance of taking control, and how coaching can complement legal advice. The conversation also touches on financial abuse, co-parenting, boundary setting, and rebuilding confidence post-divorce.

Topics Covered:
Louize’s personal experience with divorce and emotional overwhelm
How coaching helps individuals process emotions and regain control
The importance of a support network in divorce
Common emotional patterns in breakups and strategies for emotional regulation
How financial abuse manifests and how to rebuild financial independence
Co-parenting: The difference between co-parenting and parallel parenting
The impact of unresolved trauma on future relationships
How boundary setting builds confidence and self-worth
Moving on after divorce and preparing for a new relationship


Guest Bio:
Louize Yafai is a certified breakup, divorce, and domestic abuse coach. Having navigated her own high-conflict divorce, she now helps individuals process emotions, build confidence, and move forward with clarity and empowerment.

Five Key Takeaways
Divorce is an Emotional Rollercoaster: It’s normal to experience shifting emotions—anger, sadness, relief, and frustration. Coaching helps process these feelings constructively.
Lawyers Aren’t Emotional Support Systems: Lawyers provide legal strategy, not emotional guidance. Coaching ensures clients can engage effectively with their legal team.
Regaining Financial Independence is Empowering: Many individuals, particularly women, feel lost post-divorce. Small wins, like opening a solo bank account, help rebuild confidence.
Co-Parenting Requires Emotional Maturity: It’s about prioritizing the children’s needs over parental conflict. Parallel parenting often exacerbates tension.
You Must Heal Before Entering a New Relationship: Without self-reflection and boundary setting, people risk repeating unhealthy relationship patterns.

In this episode of the Family Law Cafe Podcast, host Joanna Toch speaks with Anna Florio, a relationship coach specialising in helping individuals—particularly men—navigate relationship challenges and post-divorce recovery. Anna shares her journey from being an informal relationship advisor to becoming an expert in relationship dynamics, especially concerning narcissistic relationships. She discusses why people repeat unhealthy patterns, how past trauma affects relationship choices, and why men often struggle with emotional support during divorce. The conversation also explores emotional abuse, infidelity, and the psychological impact of breakups, offering insights into healing and self-awareness.

Show Notes
00:00 Introduction – Joanna Toch introduces the podcast and guest, Anna Florio.
02:00 Anna’s Background – From childhood peacemaker to relationship coach.
06:30 Why We Repeat Relationship Patterns – Recognising subconscious behaviour loops.
12:45 Narcissistic Relationships – Identifying red flags and breaking free.
18:20 Emotional Abuse in Relationships – Why people tolerate toxic behaviour.
24:50 The Psychology of Infidelity – Different motivations for men and women.
31:15 Divorce, Emotional Trauma, and Suicide Rates in Men – Why men struggle post-divorce.
38:00 Moving Forward After a Toxic Relationship – Healing techniques and self-awareness.
45:00 Final Thoughts & Where to Find Anna Florio

5 Key Takeaways
Self-awareness is the key to healthy relationships – Recognising and addressing subconscious patterns prevents repeated mistakes.
Narcissistic relationships are built on manipulation and control – The cycle of abuse involves idealisation, devaluation, and discarding.
Emotional abuse is often dismissed but has lasting damage – Many people stay in toxic relationships due to childhood conditioning.
Men struggle with post-divorce emotional support – Societal expectations make it harder for men to seek help.
Healing requires introspection and tailored support – Relationship recovery involves emotional work, not just moving on.

In this episode, host Joanna Toch speaks with Arlene Small, a specialist family law barrister, about the evolving role of barristers, accessibility in family law, and the impact of transparency in the court system. Arlene shares her inspiring journey from the care system to becoming an advocate for empowering clients, her passion for family law, and her perspectives on the challenges and complexities of legal aid, private law cases, and financial remedies. The conversation is both deeply personal and insightful, offering listeners a nuanced view of family law practice.

Title: Breaking Barriers in Family Law with Arlene Small

Host: Joanna Toch

Guest: Arlene Small, Specialist Family Law Barrister

Key Discussion Points:

•Arlene’s journey from the care system to the bar

•Dispelling myths about barristers and making family law more accessible

•Challenges of the legal aid system and its impact on justice

•The role of transparency in family courts

•Advocating for clients in complex and high-stakes family law cases

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