Divorce Counseling for Children
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Types of Divorce Counseling for Children
One Day Workshop
- This is usually for children in between the ages of 10 to 17
- This comprises of films about divorce, assertiveness training and sentence completion exercises
- The attendees are benefited in the following ways
- Development of communication skills to deal with difficult circumstances
- Learning to express their own and parents' feelings, as well as how to cope with them
- Exploring values and assumptions of marriage and divorce
Structured Group
- This comprises of the use of drawings and collages, role playing and group discussions
- The attendees learn how to deal with crisis situations
Situational or Transitional Group
- This consists of sharing of information regarding stress, mutual feelings and identical experiences
- This group offers catharsis and emotional support
Classification of Divorce Counseling for Children
Group Counseling
- Elementary school counselors guide the groups of children of divorce
- The counselors are of the opinion that there are multiple benefits of this counseling and they are cost effective
- In 1979, Hammond's study was conducted and this concluded that 82 percent of students said that children of divorce would be benefited by this counseling
Individual Counseling
- Children who cannot perform well in groups are directed to this counseling
- This counseling is specially for those children who have unproductive and long term coping problems
- Clinicians have reported that a desirable change occurs in the child after this kind of counseling
Tips for Divorce Counseling for Kids
Teachers and counselors who oversee the counseling of children of divorce should keep the following things in mind to ensure efficient counseling.
- They should arrange events for parents, instead of specifically (i.e. separately) for mothers and fathers
- Should avoid language that is offensive for children of divorce
- Persuade parents to be firm, supportive, direct and honest with the children
- Keep the parents updated regarding the difficulties and progress of the children
- Ensure that a supportive communication system is being built
- Ascertain that consistency is being maintained in the routines and expectations
- Confirm that a stable ambience exists
- Advise and promote the use of resource materials that are appropriate for the age
- Offer a private atmosphere to the children, when they desire it
- Offer chances for the children to talk about their feelings
Role of School Counselor in Divorce Counseling for Kids
- A school counselor can conduct in-services pertaining to the impact of divorce on children and the resultant classroom demeanor. This would be able guidance for teachers and other school personnel
- The counselor can assist the teachers to understand and realize the transition that a child is going through and the implications of the transition
- The counselor can conduct Divorce Specific Assessment that comprises of the following
- Evaluation of the child's existing support systems
- Having an interview with the child regarding the response of the child to the family situation
- The developmental achievements of the child
- Counselors should not have a perspective that divorce is the single problem that has negative consequences. They must concentrate on the alterations due to divorce like visitation patterns with relatives, alterations in life styles and routines and single parent homes. Further, the neutral, negative and positive effects on children must be studied
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