?As mentioned in the first part of this series, divorce and/or separation, for better or for worse, has a substantial impact on most children. Depending on the child, their reactions to it can take the form of social withdrawal, low energy, somatic complaints such as headaches and stomachaches, difficulty focusing, aggressive behavior, and mood swings. How well children will adapt depends on several factors detailed herein.
Divorce and/or separation is a difficult transition for all involved, and is a major adjustment for adults and children. Dr. Veronica Brodsky outlines the psychological tasks children of divorce must accomplish when going through this difficult time. This is Dr. Brodsky?s first in a series of blogs that will address the topics of divorce and separation.
As much as possible, do not encourage your kids to side with you over their other parent.
There is no perfect divorce. Many parents come to me for psychotherapy asking for advice about how to minimize the negative effects of the impending separation on their children and on their family as a whole. While this is no substitute for ongoing family therapy, this and future blogs will outline the most common concerns that parents bring to me. What follows are the first two issues to address. My advice is to anticipate these issues and minimize their influence as much as possible.