Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Dempsey-Multack.
Michelle, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Born and raised in NY, Michelle started her formal studies at American University (major in Journalism) and graduated from Hofstra University with a degree in Journalism/Communications. She later earned a double master’s degree in Education from Adelphi University and worked as a special education teacher in New York before Moving to Miami in late 2012.
Michelle’s personal life has deeply informed her professional focus. She was a child of divorce; her parents’ separation was “very, very contentious” and impacted her deeply. After becoming a mother to her daughter Bella, Michelle went through divorce herself (her daughter was 2 years old at the time) and then later remarried and became a step-mom to her now-stepdaughter. These personal experiences of being a divorced mom, co-parenting, and then navigating a blended family have given her first-hand experience with many of the issues her clients face: single motherhood, separation, step-parenting, co-parent conflict
Michelle is a Certified Divorce & Co-Parenting Specialist (CDS), a Certified Co-Parenting Specialst and an educator for divorce coaches. In 202o, founded the brand/program Moms Moving On (and her trademarked method Moving On Method®) to support women navigating divorce, rebuild confidence, and foster healthy co-parenting. Through her Moving On Method® Divorce & Co-Parenting Coach Certification program, she has trained and certified hundreds of divorce coaches, attorneys, and mental health professionals.
Michelle authored the bestselling book Moms Moving On: Real Life Advice on Conquering Divorce, Co‑Parenting Through Conflict, and Becoming Your Best Self (published by Simon & Schuster) which consolidates her guidance, research , and personal insights, and hosts the Moving On Method® podcast (fka Moms Moving On) – a top 1% divorce podcast since 2020.
Because Michelle lived through divorce (and was a child of divorce), her approach is both lived experience + professional credentials. This dual perspective allows her to empathize deeply while also providing strategy, structure, and education to clients across the globe. A core pillar of her work: putting the child first in the divorce process and guiding parents to co‐parent in ways their children will be proud of one day.
She emphasizes not just surviving divorce but moving on with intention; rebuilding identity, effecting healthy boundaries, changing narratives around single motherhood, co-parenting, and step-families
Michelle resides in the North Miami area with her husband, daughter, stepdaughter, and a bunch of pets and spends as much time as she can in her home-away-from-home, Vail, Colorado.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Michelle ended up moving to Miami to be close to family, after a devastating car accident left her bedridden for months and completely dependent on support from others. Navigating a new landscape at the age of 29 after just having gotten back on her feet literally and figuratively was no easy task. Shortly thereafter, Michelle got married, had a child, and was ultimately divorced. Michelle describes getting divorced with a 2-year-old in tow, while surrounded by happily married friends as one of the most difficult yet empowering times of her life, and because of that struggle, was forced to level up emotionally in ways that have ultimately contributed to her success.
As you know, we’re big fans of Moving On Method®. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I specialize in working with clients all over the world, to help them take a child-first approach to co-parenting. I am known for helping clients separate their emotions for their exes from the co-parenting process, so that they can give their children a co-parented experience they won’t have to heal from.
I also specialize in working with divorce professionals such as attorneys, mediators, mental health professionals and divorce coaches to educate them on our method so that they can look past the needs of their clients and focus on the children, who are most affected by the adult decisions in divorce.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
It was a huge risk to build a business centered around a topic like divorce, especially since I am not a lawyer.
For a long time, the perception of my work was that I was a champion for divorce, and encouraging people to do so, which is not the case.
I received a lot of criticism and push-back until my book was published, which is when people ultimately realized that my work is not to designed to convince people to divorce, but rather to teach them how to take their children out of the middle of the divorce process and place their needs in the center instead. This was a huge turning point in my career but it took a while to get here – and I was determined to stop at nothing to do so.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.michelledempsey.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themichelledempsey
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mldempsey
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/themichelledempsey
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/themichelledempsey1
Image Credits
Jeffery Salter
Jessica Kassin
