When parents divorce, children undergo stress. Of course, divorcing parents are dealing with their own stress: grieving the loss of the marriage, anger at their spouse, anxiety over finances, worries about the children, and fear of the unknown. Nevertheless, helping your children cope with this major disruption in their lives is a must. Moreover, your child needs a good relationship with both parents, regardless of how the parents feel about each other.
An excellent resource for divorcing parents is a Parent Handbook produced by the New York State Parent Education and Awareness Program. This 75-page booklet, written by mental health professionals, is full of practical advice for divorcing parents. For a pdf of the Handbook, click here: http://www.nycourts.gov/IP/parent-ed/pdf/ParentsHandbook.pdf
I encourage divorcing parents to get some coaching on co-parenting from a mental health professional with expertise in this area. Look for a therapist who provides a focused form of counseling that teaches specific strategies to help divorcing parents understand and meet their children’s needs. Many of the therapists who belong to the New York Association of Collaborative Professionals (NYACP) are very experienced in this work. You can search for a mental health professional with this expertise on the NYACP website in the categories, “Child Specialist,” and “Divorce Coach.” Click here: http://www.nycollaborativeprofessionals.org/who-is-collaborative-for/children/
