Divorce can be a difficult and emotional time for families, especially when children are involved and even more so if families are dispersed geographically. During this transition, a therapist can play a vital role in helping the family navigate the changes and challenges they may face. Consider a multi-state licensed therapist like Lisa Rogers if your family members are now located in different states.
Here are five ways ways a therapist can help a divorced family with kids:
- Provide emotional support: Divorce can be a traumatic event for both parents and children, and a therapist can provide a safe and supportive space for everyone to process their feelings and emotions. This can include helping parents and children to grieve the loss of their previous family structure, as well as addressing any feelings of guilt, anger or sadness that may arise.
- Help parents communicate effectively: Divorce can often lead to increased conflict and communication breakdowns between parents, which can be detrimental to the well-being of the children. A therapist can teach parents effective communication skills and strategies for co-parenting, such as active listening and problem-solving. This can help parents to work together more effectively and provide a more stable and positive environment for the children.
- Support children through the transition: Children can often feel confused and conflicted during a divorce, as they may feel torn between their parents or experience feelings of loss and abandonment. A therapist can provide children with a safe and non-judgmental space to express their feelings, and help them to understand and cope with the changes in their family structure. This can include helping children to adjust to living in two separate homes (or states), as well as addressing any issues related to self-esteem or identity.
- Address any underlying issues: Divorce can often be the result of underlying issues within the relationship, such as communication breakdowns, financial difficulties or infidelity. A therapist can work with the family to address these issues and help them to develop new coping mechanisms, so that they can move forward in a more positive and healthy way.
- Help the family to develop a new normal: Divorce can be a difficult and painful process, but it can also be an opportunity for growth and change. A therapist can work with the family to help them to develop a new sense of normalcy, and to create a new and positive family dynamic. This can include helping parents and children to find new ways to spend time together and to build new family traditions.
It’s important to note that, a therapist can work with the families individually or in a group setting, depending on the specific needs of the family. And also it’s important to find a therapist who has experience working with families going through divorce, as they will have a better understanding of the unique challenges and dynamics that come with it.
Lastly, a multi-state licensed therapist like Lisa Rogers can be an invaluable resource for divorced families as they navigate co-parenting and relationships that reach across state lines. Utilizing virtual counseling for dispersed groups and families can be a convenient resource to help strengthen relationships that are physically distant. Learn more about virtual counseling here.