Counsel & Community

Money Matters: Financial Intelligence

Episode Summary:In this episode of Counsel and Community, Attorney Sarah Green and Brett Nelson discuss how financial transparency can strengthen relationships and prevent conflict. They explore why couples should manage money together, the risks of financial secrecy, and how women can become more financially informed and empowered. The episode wraps up with practical advice for maintaining open communication and financial stability in marriage.
Key Timestamps:
00:00 – Understanding how money affects relationships01:20 – Why separate bank accounts can lead to problems03:45 – How financial control can turn into manipulation06:00 – Sarah shares advice for women to gain financial independence08:15 – The importance of shared financial responsibility10:00 – Simple steps to build trust through open communication12:00 – Mindful moment: Take control of your financial knowledge
About the Show:Counsel and Community brings together experienced attorneys from Nelson Law Group to share real-world legal insights and practical advice for life’s challenges. Each episode is designed to help listeners make informed, confident decisions about their family, finances, and future.

Co-Parenting During the Holidays – Building New Traditions

Episode Summary:In this episode of Counsel and Community, Sarah Green joins Brett Nelson to discuss how divorced or separated parents can navigate co-parenting during the holidays with less conflict and more joy. They share advice on creating fair parenting schedules, communicating respectfully, and focusing on what truly matters — making the holidays special for the children. Sarah also offers perspective on how to reframe the season as an opportunity to start fresh, build new traditions, and create lasting memories.
Key Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction to co-parenting during the holidays01:10 – Common legal issues around holiday visitation02:30 – Why flexibility matters more than the date itself04:00 – Importance of including standard possession schedules in decrees05:20 – How to handle disputes over holiday schedules07:00 – The power of saying “yes” and prioritizing the children’s needs08:30 – Reframing the holidays: Sarah on creating new traditions after divorce09:45 – How kindness and cooperation impact children’s holiday experience10:30 – Mindful Moment: Brainstorming new family traditions
About the Show:Counsel and Community brings together experienced attorneys from the Nelson Law Group to share practical legal insights and personal growth advice. Each episode offers compassionate guidance on family law, divorce, and co-parenting — helping families move forward with clarity and confidence.

The Art of Allowance

Episode Summary:
Sarah Green shares insights on the importance of allowing opportunities to come to us rather than constantly seeking them out. She reflects on her personal journey, including fostering children, transitioning into energy work, navigating divorce, and stepping into a space of receptiveness. Sarah emphasizes the power of rest, receiving, and self-awareness in achieving success and fulfillment.
 
Key Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction
02:45 – Stepping into fostering and adoption
06:10 – Transitioning into energy work
09:25 – Lessons from divorce and financial independence
13:15 – Challenges of stepmotherhood and seeking help
16:40 – Learning to receive and attract positive outcomes
20:00 – Practicing self-reflection and changing core beliefs
23:30 – Collaborating in family law and mental health
26:15 – Launching the podcast "Counseling Community"
 
About the Show:
*Counsel and Community* is a platform dedicated to exploring personal growth, professional development, and holistic well-being. Through insightful conversations and practical advice, our guests share valuable perspectives on navigating life's challenges and embracing opportunities for transformation.

Blending Families with Care: What to Know Before You Combine Households

Episode Summary:Blending families after divorce can be one of the most rewarding—and most challenging—experiences for parents and children. In this episode, Sarah Green and Brett Nelson share practical guidance on timing, communication, and emotional awareness when introducing new partners and step-parenting. They break down the risks of moving too fast, how to support children through transitions, and what couples must discuss before combining households. With real-life insights and mindful advice, this conversation offers a roadmap for making blended families work.
What You Will Learn in This Episode:
Why waiting at least six months before introducing a new partner to children is important
How to prepare kids emotionally for changes in family structure
Key conversations couples should have before merging households
The four stages of step-parenting and how to navigate them
Why discipline, authority, and parenting roles must be clearly defined
How cultural stereotypes affect stepmothers and why community support is vital
The importance of prioritizing children’s well-being over adult desires
Key Timestamps:
00:02 – How soon is too soon to introduce a new partner to children?00:05 – Preparing kids for change and why their stability comes first00:07 – Should you tell your children when you start dating again?00:09 – Key discussions couples need before blending families00:11 – Why “mom” and “dad” titles should be earned, not forced00:13 – Sarah’s four stages of step-parenting00:15 – Discipline, authority, and defining parenting roles00:17 – Treating stepchildren like your best friend’s kids00:18 – Sarah’s mindful moment: finding resources and community for blended families
About the Show:
Counsel and Community blends legal insights with practical advice for personal growth, healthy relationships, and financial well-being. Hosted by the Nelson Law Group team, the show offers actionable tips to help couples navigate life’s challenges, strengthen marriages, and make intentional decisions that align with their values.

Dating after Divorce: Don’t Make the Same Mistake Twice

In this episode, Sarah Green shares practical and honest insights on dating after divorce. From understanding why rushing into a new relationship often leads to repeated mistakes, to recognizing the importance of self-reflection and value work, Sarah helps listeners understand how to prepare for healthy, long-term relationships. Alongside Brett Nelson, she highlights the legal, emotional, and family considerations of dating too soon, especially when children are involved.
What You Will Learn in This Episode:
Why dating before your divorce is finalized can create legal and emotional setbacks
The risks of jumping into a new relationship too quickly
How self-reflection and value work shape healthier partnerships
The importance of involving trusted family and friends in your dating decisions
Common legal challenges parents face when dating post-divorce
Actionable steps to ensure you’re truly ready for a new relationship
Key Timestamps:
00:01 – Is it okay to date before a divorce is finalized?00:05 – Typical divorce timelines and why patience is key00:07 – The importance of reflection and understanding your role in the divorce00:10 – Sarah’s value-based approach to preparing for dating00:12 – Why outside input from family and friends matters00:14 – Legal and custody issues that come with dating too soon00:16 – The role of self-awareness in moving forward00:18 – Final takeaways: What to bring into a relationship
About the Show:
Counsel and Community blends legal insights with practical advice for personal growth, healthy relationships, and financial well-being. Hosted by the Nelson Law Group team, the show offers actionable tips to help couples navigate life’s challenges, strengthen marriages, and make intentional decisions that align with their values.

Coparenting Without Conflict: How to Support Your Child and Stay Out of Court

Episode Summary:In this episode, Sarah Green and Brett Nelson share practical insights on navigating co-parenting challenges after divorce. They explain the most common mistakes parents make when trying to “win” custody battles, how toxic communication affects children, and why keeping the child’s best interest at the center is key. From tools that support healthy co-parenting to guidance on managing emotions, this conversation provides valuable advice for parents seeking to reduce conflict and build healthier relationships for the sake of their children.
What You Will Learn in This Episode:
Why “winning” in co-parenting battles is a harmful mindset
How toxic communication between parents impacts children’s mental health and development
The role of co-parenting tools and apps in reducing conflict
Practical strategies to improve communication and focus on the child’s best interest
How flexibility in custody agreements can benefit both parents and children
A mindful approach to building positivity toward your co-parent
Key Timestamps:
02:30 – Why the idea of “winning” custody damages families05:00 – Shifting the focus back to the child’s needs07:40 – How toxic co-parenting affects children long-term09:30 – Tools and apps that improve co-parent communication12:50 – The importance of documenting communication for custody cases15:00 – Flexibility in custody agreements and why it matters16:30 – Mindful moment: Finding positives in your co-parent
About the Show:
Counsel and Community blends legal insights with practical advice for personal growth, healthy relationships, and financial well-being. Hosted by the Nelson Law Group team, the show offers actionable tips to help couples navigate life’s challenges, strengthen marriages, and make intentional decisions that align with their values.

Foster Care and Adoption: Legal Steps and Meaningful Ways to Support Youth in Need

Episode Summary:In this episode, Sarah Green and Brett Nelson explore the realities of foster care and adoption, from the licensing process to the emotional challenges and legal complexities. Sarah draws from her 15 years of experience as a foster and adoptive parent, while Brett shares the legal perspective on interventions, standing, and adoption-related cases. Together, they discuss the misconceptions about foster care, the true motivations of foster parents, and the importance of community support for children in need.
What You Will Learn in This Episode:
How to become a foster parent and what the licensing process involves
Common misconceptions about foster care and adoption
The real reasons children are removed from homes, including neglect and drug use
The legal process for adoption and interventions in Texas
How biological parents’ rights are treated under the “fit parent presumption”
Ways non-parents, relatives, and step-parents can gain standing in a child’s case
Practical advice for families considering fostering or adopting
How community members can support foster children without becoming foster parents
Key Timestamps:
00:02 – How to become a foster parent: licensing, training, and home study00:04 – Misconceptions about foster parents and financial motives00:05 – Neglect, drug use, and why most children enter foster care00:07 – The goal of reunification with biological parents and service plans00:09 – How fostering impacts families who already have children00:10 – Legal challenges in adoption and interventions for non-parents00:13 – Foster parents’ rights after one year of care00:15 – Ways to support foster care without fostering (respite care, CASA, mentorship)00:17 – Sarah’s mindful moment: find ways to support underserved youth in your community
About the Show:
Counsel and Community blends legal insights with practical advice for personal growth, healthy relationships, and financial well-being. Hosted by the Nelson Law Group team, the show offers actionable tips to help couples navigate life’s challenges, strengthen marriages, and make intentional decisions that align with their values.

Getting Lost in The Kids: Priorities in Marriage

Episode Summary:In this episode of Counsel and Community, Brett and Sarah from the Nelson Law Group discuss how couples can avoid “getting lost in the kids” and keep their marriage a priority. They explore why parents often unintentionally place their children above their relationship, the dangers of neglecting intentional connection, and how shifting priorities can strengthen both marriage and family life. Brett and Sarah share practical tips for maintaining balance, the importance of self-care, and how aligning actions with true priorities can save a marriage before it reaches a breaking point.
Key Timestamps: 00:00 – Show introduction 01:05 – How parents lose sight of their marriage by prioritizing kids 03:32 – Simple ways to stay intentional in your relationship 06:10 – The importance of valuing the stay-at-home spouse and self-care 09:08 – How misplaced priorities can lead to toxic tolerance in marriage 11:26 – Aligning actions with personal and family priorities 15:15 – Living out priorities that aren’t truly your own 18:22 – A success story: How shifting priorities saved a marriage 24:40 – Adjusting priorities based on your current season of life 28:55 – Creative ways to make time for your relationship (A-to-Z date nights) 33:17 – Why fighting for your marriage is worth it
About the Show:Counsel and Community blends legal insights with practical advice for personal growth, healthy relationships, and financial well-being. Hosted by the Nelson Law Group team, the show offers actionable tips to help couples navigate life’s challenges, strengthen marriages, and make intentional decisions that align with their values.

How Women Can Avoid Divorce

Episode Summary:In this episode of Counsel and Community, Brett and Sarah Green from the Nelson Law Group discuss how women can actively strengthen their marriages and avoid divorce. Drawing on personal experiences and professional insights, they share the top reasons men initiate divorce—such as lack of shared interests, lack of respect, infidelity, addiction, and diminished intimacy—and offer practical ways women can address these challenges before they escalate.
The conversation explores how focusing solely on children can unintentionally create distance between spouses, why resentment builds when unspoken expectations aren’t met, and how hyper-independence can undermine a marriage. Brett emphasizes the importance of intentional time and respect in a partnership, while Sarah reflects on her own experiences, highlighting the need to allow space for a partner to step up and contribute.
The episode also cautions against venting about your spouse to friends and family, encouraging instead the pursuit of wise counsel and focusing on grace, mutual support, and teamwork. The mindful moment encourages women to intentionally create space for connection with their spouse—even in small, simple ways.
Key Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction to why women initiate divorce more often01:15 – Top reasons men leave their marriages03:30 – How focusing solely on children creates distance in a marriage06:05 – Lack of intimacy and the feeling of disconnection08:42 – Why respect matters deeply in sustaining a relationship11:00 – Letting your partner parent: avoiding hyper-independence14:25 – Resentment, unspoken expectations, and how they lead to disconnect17:15 – Personal reflections on how actions contribute to divorce21:00 – The dangers of badmouthing your spouse to others25:12 – Seeking wise counsel and learning from long-lasting marriages28:20 – Showing grace for mistakes and embracing teamwork in marriage31:10 – Mindful moment: creating intentional space for connection33:05 – Final takeaway: investing time now to avoid costly regret later
About the Show:Counsel and Community blends legal insight with real-life relationship and personal growth advice. Hosted by the Nelson Law Group team, the show offers practical tips for navigating family and legal challenges while fostering stronger, healthier relationships.

Marriage, Mindset, & the Coffee Cup: Avoiding Divorce for Men

Episode Summary:In this episode of Counsel and Community, Brett and Sarah from the Nelson Law Group share practical and heartfelt insights on how men can strengthen their marriages and avoid the path toward divorce. They discuss common misunderstandings men have about marriage as a partnership, the importance of listening without fixing, and the power of small gestures—like putting the coffee cup in the dishwasher—that show care and consideration.
The conversation explores how humor and seemingly harmless behaviors can slowly damage relationships over time, why men must embrace a servant’s heart, and how “slow playing” divorce can create space for self-growth and potentially repair a broken relationship. Sarah also offers strategies to reduce reactivity and improve communication, while Brett emphasizes that living an honorable, Christ-centered life can naturally transform a marriage.
Key Timestamps:00:00 – Show introduction and topic overview01:15 – Common misunderstandings men have about marriage partnerships04:40 – How listening without fixing can transform a relationship08:12 – The importance of small gestures: the coffee cup story11:50 – Why humor at your spouse’s expense can quietly damage a marriage15:03 – Learning to recognize and manage reactivity in relationships18:25 – The concept of “slow playing” divorce and working on yourself22:18 – Changing expectations vs. changing reality in marriage25:05 – Living with a servant’s heart and its impact on relationships28:10 – Mindful moment: practicing unseen acts of service
About the Show:Counsel and Community brings together the Nelson Law Group team to share practical legal insights alongside personal growth strategies. From navigating complex family law issues to improving communication and building healthier relationships, the show helps listeners approach life’s challenges with clarity, compassion, and confidence.