Pathways Psychology Services
| 27 w 130 Roosevelt Road, Suite 203, Winfield, IL 60190 (630) 588-8490 |
Serving: Naperville, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Winfield, West Chicago, Aurora, Elmhurst, Dupage County, and Surrounding Areas |
Divorce
Adjustment to Divorce and Mixed Families
Divorce can be extremely stressful for adults, families, and particularly children who are unavoidably affected by the separation and new living situation. Children or adolescents will often feel that they are to blame for the divorce. Another potentially stressful factor is that children often feel that they have to choose a side between one parent or the other. Children or teens may hide or minimize their stress and unhappiness because they do not want to make their parents feel worse for the divorce situation. Counseling can be helpful in offering the child a safe and neutral environment where they can express feelings regarding their family and the adjustment they are going through.
While divorce may in some instances be inevitable or the best option available, there are steps parents can take to minimize or neutralize the negative effects that divorce often has on children. One of the most important approaches is to model respect and positive regard for the ex-spouse. No child or teen wants to feel like their mother or father is a bad person. This type of conflict often affects a child's self-esteem and can lead to increased conflict between parents as well as symptoms of anxiety and depression in the child. The more effectively parents can model appropriate conflict resolution between one another, the healthier the divorced relationship can be for the child. In this regard, effective communication between parents or the use of a mediator or neutral family therapist to help in negotiating parenting strategies can be a significant help to children in these situations.
Mixed families or families with stepchildren involved can pose unique challenges for both the children and parents. Issues of fairness and adjustment to different households are common sources of stress with children in mixed families. Helping children express their needs and a parent’s responsiveness to the needs or feelings that children may have towards their mixed families is important to a child's well-being. While fairness in parenting is important, it is also important to allow for activities and opportunities that allow the biological child to feel the special and unique relationship with his or her parent remains intact.
If you are looking for a psychologist or counselor proficient in providing child counseling, teen counseling,
family therapy, marriage counseling, or psychological testing, click on our staff page to learn more about our psychologists and therapists or click on services for more details regarding treatment for different problems.
TO CONTACT US WITH A QUESTION OR TO SCHEDULE AN INITIAL CONSULTATION WITH A THERAPIST OR PSYCHOLOGIST EXPERIENCED IN PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN OR FAMILIES COPING WITH DIVORCE OR MIXED FAMILY ISSUES, CALL (630) 588-8490 OR CLICK BELOW.
Serving: Naperville • Wheaton • Glen Ellyn • Winfield • West Chicago • Geneva • Bloomingdale • Elmhurst • Villa Park • Lombard • Aurora • Carol Stream • Elgin • Bartlett • Plainfield • Batavia • Lisle • Downers Grove • St. Charles • Dupage County • Kane County • Will County • Cook County • Illinois
Divorce can be extremely stressful for adults, families, and particularly children who are unavoidably affected by the separation and new living situation. Children or adolescents will often feel that they are to blame for the divorce. Another potentially stressful factor is that children often feel that they have to choose a side between one parent or the other. Children or teens may hide or minimize their stress and unhappiness because they do not want to make their parents feel worse for the divorce situation. Counseling can be helpful in offering the child a safe and neutral environment where they can express feelings regarding their family and the adjustment they are going through.While divorce may in some instances be inevitable or the best option available, there are steps parents can take to minimize or neutralize the negative effects that divorce often has on children. One of the most important approaches is to model respect and positive regard for the ex-spouse. No child or teen wants to feel like their mother or father is a bad person. This type of conflict often affects a child's self-esteem and can lead to increased conflict between parents as well as symptoms of anxiety and depression in the child. The more effectively parents can model appropriate conflict resolution between one another, the healthier the divorced relationship can be for the child. In this regard, effective communication between parents or the use of a mediator or neutral family therapist to help in negotiating parenting strategies can be a significant help to children in these situations.
Mixed families or families with stepchildren involved can pose unique challenges for both the children and parents. Issues of fairness and adjustment to different households are common sources of stress with children in mixed families. Helping children express their needs and a parent’s responsiveness to the needs or feelings that children may have towards their mixed families is important to a child's well-being. While fairness in parenting is important, it is also important to allow for activities and opportunities that allow the biological child to feel the special and unique relationship with his or her parent remains intact.If you are looking for a psychologist or counselor proficient in providing child counseling, teen counseling,
family therapy, marriage counseling, or psychological testing, click on our staff page to learn more about our psychologists and therapists or click on services for more details regarding treatment for different problems.
TO CONTACT US WITH A QUESTION OR TO SCHEDULE AN INITIAL CONSULTATION WITH A THERAPIST OR PSYCHOLOGIST EXPERIENCED IN PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN OR FAMILIES COPING WITH DIVORCE OR MIXED FAMILY ISSUES, CALL (630) 588-8490 OR CLICK BELOW.
Serving: Naperville • Wheaton • Glen Ellyn • Winfield • West Chicago • Geneva • Bloomingdale • Elmhurst • Villa Park • Lombard • Aurora • Carol Stream • Elgin • Bartlett • Plainfield • Batavia • Lisle • Downers Grove • St. Charles • Dupage County • Kane County • Will County • Cook County • Illinois
Office Contact and Location:
Pathways Psychology Services
Phone: 630-588-8490
Fax: 630-588-8491
E-mail: drjoe@pathways-psychology.com
27W130 Roosevelt Road, Suite 203
Winfield, IL 60190