When couples 50 and older end their marriage, known as gray divorce, it can stress or break parent-child attachment bonds.

Stephanie, 33, and Lorraine, her 58-year-old mother, sat diagonally across from each other on the love seats in my office. They said they had communicated infrequently, only via text, for the past eight months, and wanted help healing their estranged relationship. Stephanie and her fiancé, Joshua, were getting married in five months. The two had the following exchange.

Lorraine: Stephanie, thank you for being willing to come here to help us with our relationship. We have always had a good, close relationship. Your and Joshua's wedding plans have created situations that are extremely painful for me.

Stephanie: I'm glad we are here and hope we're successful. The wedding plans have made it harder for me to keep quiet about what I've been feeling for a long time. I hate that since you and Dad separated, you have continued to talk negatively about Dad. We need help.

Their conversation continued, vacillating between intense, angry words and words that caught in their throats as tears fell down their cheeks.

Lorraine: I'm so hurt that you said you did not want me to bring Joe, my significant other, to your rehearsal dinner and wedding. I can't believe you would do this to me.

Stephanie: Mom, I've explained this to you before. Our wedding is about Joshua and me. It's a once-in-a-lifetime event. Joe is a stranger to us, and we don't want him........

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