Helping Children Cope with Divorce

By: Julie Sekachev, M. Ed, LPC Associate

Divorce can be a difficult and life changing event in your child’s life. By helping your child navigate this uncertain time and utilizing some tips below you can help them process what is happening in a healthy way. 

How To Talk To Your Child About Divorce

1. Make sure your child understands that they are not the cause for the divorce. Sit down with your child and explain that divorce is a grown-up decision, when parents have tried everything and will get along better if they live apart. 
2. Reinforce that both of you still love your child and will be there for them. Reassure your child that he or she will still see the other parent (if applicable) and utilize a visual aid such a calendar to show visitation days. This will help ease your child’s anxiety and let them feel a sense of control about the future. 
3. Allow your child to talk about how they feel. Listen to your child’s worries, fears, and concerns. Comfort them with reassurance, a hug, some quiet time spent together. Let them know that it is normal to wish that their parents would reconcile but let them know that you already tried really hard to do that, and this is the best decision. Validate that your child is going through a difficult change. 

Tips To Help Your Child Cope Through The Transition of Divorce

1. Maintain a positive attitude when you speak about your ex-partner in your child’s presence. Never criticize your ex around your child. Children pick up not only on what you say, but the non-verbal language as well. Remember your child has a different and unique relationship with their parent, expressing negative comments or hostility towards your ex around your child can lead them to feel that they are in the middle and can pressure them to pick sides. 
2. Maintain a unique relationship with your child. Creating special family time together can help your child feel like they are still connected to you, especially if you are the non-custodial parent. Plan a special outing together or have favorite books just the two of you read.
3. Allow your child to have a transitional object to feel safe and secure when in both homes. Depending on your child’s age this could be a special toy, blanket, a favorite game, etc. 
4. Seeking professional help can help both you and your child process difficult emotions. A teen or child therapist can give your child a safe place to talk about feelings and process this life change. Divorce therapy can help your child open up and work through the loss of parent’s relationship, and the readjustment phase they will go through.

Begin Divorce Therapy in Katy, TX

If you are ready to find help for yourself or your child, the therapists at The Center at Cinco Ranch can help! To begin counseling in Katy, TX follow these three steps:

1. Contact our office to set up an appointment or to get more information on coping with divorce.
2. Meet with one of our skilled therapists
3. Find new ways to help you or your child cope in a healthy way!

Other Therapy Services We Offer

Here at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch we offer counseling services for people of all ages in areas including: counseling for kids, counseling for young adults, teen counseling, couples counseling, eating disorder treatment, men’s issues, women’s issues, anxiety treatment, depression therapy, trauma counseling, family therapy, and group counseling. Our therapists strive to regularly post blogs. We provide helpful information on a variety of mental health topics. To learn more about our therapists and our counseling services, please reach out to the Counseling Center today!