It’s no secret that divorce will change family dynamics. Although you may be looking forward to a fresh start, your children may be unable to handle the transition without help. In therapy, a compassionate counselor who specializes in child and adolescent mental health can teach your children how to cope with the stress and anxiety they feel surrounding divorce.
Does Your Child Need Therapy?
Signs Your Child Could Benefit From Therapy
Children may not ask for help when they’re struggling emotionally. As such, it’s up to parents to recognize the signs. Your child may need therapy if they can’t concentrate on schoolwork, have trouble sleeping, aren’t eating, lash out, or are persistently angry, sad, or anxious. Children who are having trouble coping with divorce may also regress to behaviors they’ve outgrown, like thumb-sucking and bed-wetting. Older kids, on the other hand, may be more inclined to rebel or to withdraw.
If you don’t see evidence of these behaviors in your children, follow up with their teachers, tutors, coaches, and babysitters. They may have noticed signs that you have not.
Ways Therapy Can Help Your Child
Talk therapy can help children who are unable to cope with their parents’ divorce in several ways. It creates a safe space where they can discuss concerns they’re not comfortable sharing with anyone else. A therapist can also teach a child how to recognize the onset of negativity, determine underlying causes, and process their feelings more productively.
