How You Can Help Your Children Better Adjust After Divorce
As if divorce weren't hard enough on the adults in the relationship, kids tend to have it pretty bad too. Divorce can affect your children well into adulthood and might even help to shape their personal relationships in a negative way as time goes on. The good news is that there are a few things you can do to help your kids better adjust during and after your divorce. You can use the following tips and tricks to support your children as they get used to all of the family changes:
Get the Kids Involved with Therapy
Encouraging your children to participate in therapy is an excellent way to make sure that they have the support they need to work through their fears and anxieties about your divorce and to focus on the more positive aspects of your family's life. When your kids participate in therapy sessions, they'll have an opportunity to express their true emotions in a safe environment without fear of hurting someone's feelings or getting into trouble. Here are a few effective options to consider:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – Children have a chance to learn about how their emotions and thoughts are interconnected so they can practice skills that enable them to maintain better control over their behavior and feelings.
- Play Therapy – Makes use of toys, games, and even sand to help kids expand on their self-expression and self-efficacy, which in turn makes it easier to process emotions.
- Family Therapy – Engages all members of the family to learn new ways of managing dysfunction and minimizing blame.
It's a good idea to consult with multiple types of therapists before deciding which one to ultimately utilize. Make sure your children get to meet each therapist during your consultations so they can help you make a final decision.
Hire the Right Lawyer
When consulting with potential lawyers to represent you throughout the divorce process, keep your kids in mind. Find out what types of services and resources are available through each attorney you speak with that can help you provide the support and care that your children need during such a difficult time. While some lawyers may not offer any support options of significance, you're bound to talk to those who do provide options such as:
- Special discounts for therapy so you can take advantage of more sessions.
- Divorce mediation participation and guidance so you can more easily negotiate with your spouse when it comes to custody and child support.
- Babysitting services during meetings and court appearances so stress is lessened.
Even if a lawyer doesn't offer special services themselves, they may have connections to service providers within the industry who do. So ask each lawyer you speak with to provide you with an exhaustive list of services, perks, and support options they directly offer, as well as any discount services they can connect you with indirectly. For more information, talk to a divorce attorney at a location like Gordon Liebmann Attorneys at Law.
Focus on Stress Relief
Stress is a typical side effect of divorce, so it's important to ensure that everyone in the family has effective outlets to utilize for stress relief. If your kids are like most, they base their personal actions on yours as a parent, so everyone in the household should take plenty of time out to destress. There are many things you can do together throughout the week that will help relieve everyone's stress and encourage a positive frame of mind – consider participating in one or more of the following options:
- Have a game night at home at least once a week.
- Pack picnics and head to the park for lunch several times a month.
- Spend a few minutes each day practicing basic yoga poses together.
- Commit to attending a play, concert, or festival once a month.
The goal is to ensure that you and your children have plenty of opportunities to forget about your troubles and focus on the good things in life.
These tips and tricks should help you create some peace of mind for your little ones and make your job easier as a parent while going through your divorce.
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