Family Lawyer
If you are currently undergoing a divorce with a lawyer, like a family lawyer, as a parent, you may be wondering how your children are holding up amidst the chaos. Depending on your child, he or she may bounce back rapidly, or need extra time and assurance to the changes. If parents are going through heartbreak and stress, children may be absorbing this energy too. Being a parent, you may start to feel that perhaps therapy is the right thing to do for your kids during this time. However, your soon to be former spouse may or may not be so keen to the idea of taking your child to therapy. The benefits of therapy can be insurmountable, especially as your youngster goes through such a life-changing process.
Here in this article, we have gone into further detail about whether it may be time for a therapy session, how to deal with an uncooperative spouse, and the various methods a therapist may use when talking with your child.
Signs that a Child May Need Extra Support
As a parent, you know your children better than anyone else. If you start to feel that something has changed in their overall sense of being, your instincts are probably correct. Unless your child comes right out and says they want to see a therapist, it can be difficult to decide whether or not you should wait things out. Any signs that your child is having trouble coping should not be taken lightly. Listed here are some signs that your child may need extra support when coping with the divorce:
- Sudden gain or loss of weight
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep
- Nightmares
- Feeling down, tired or sad most of the time
- Physical aches without any known cause
- Disinterest in spending time with friends
- Trouble concentrating at home or school
- Appearing fidgety, agitated or impatient
- Close loved ones expressing concern over child’s wellness
- Angry outbursts
- Acting out often at home & in public
- Poor self-esteem
How to Talk About Child Therapy with Your Spouse
Especially if things are tense between you and your soon to be former spouse, he or she may not agree with taking your child to a therapist. It may help alleviate your spouse’s opposition if you approach the topic in a way where you are objective. For example, state the facts that your child is having certain symptoms which are worrisome. By being more factual, your spouse may feel less inclined to react with hostility simply to be argumentative with you.
The Therapist Approach to Child Therapy
If you have never been to a therapy session before, you may be wondering what exactly it entails. Depending on the age of your child, a therapist may utilize a variety of cognitive approaches. For every small children who are not openly expressive, may be given toys or asked to create drawings to encourage verbalizing emotions. Other methods of therapy can include:
- Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT)
- Interpersonal therapy
- Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
- Play therapy
- Psychodynamic psychotherapy
- Group therapy
- Family therapy