Divorce clients often wonder whether they need counseling. If they have kids, they are also likely to wonder whether their children need therapy. If you’re asking one or both of these questions, that’s good because looking after your mental health and the mental health of your children is essential to your overall well-being.

In this article, we’re not talking about marriage counseling. If you’re thinking about divorce and you’re curious about marriage counseling, visit our page next month for an article about “discernment counseling”, a process that can help couples decide whether to pursue marriage counseling. This article is about determining whether to seek individual therapy for yourself and your children.

Adults who are going through divorce need emotional support. Counseling is one available form of emotional support. Only you can decide whether it is right for you. The intense emotions that divorce brings about can take you by surprise, even if you expected to face emotional challenges. Think about what works for you when you need to make big decisions or find solutions to problems in your daily life. Do you have a friend or family member who listens well and talks with you in a way that is helpful and uplifting? Conversations with people like that can be helpful and healing. Some people that you talk to may have even been through a divorce themselves, which can help you feel heard, understood, supported and accepted. If you are a person of faith, your congregational leader may be a trustworthy source of support. Sometimes, a professional counselor is the best emotional support, especially if you are wrestling with depression, anxiety, or substance use. Ask people for references or call around to see who might be a good fit for you. Finding the right emotional support makes a huge difference in your ability to recover from your divorce and move forward with your life.

Sometimes, kids whose parents are divorcing benefit from therapy. Every child’s needs are unique, so it is good to evaluate whether counseling could benefit your child. That said, it is imperative that you understand how important of a role you, the parent, play in meeting your child’s mental health needs. Children who receive consistent emotional support from parents during and after divorce often come through the experience having acquired good coping and problem-solving skills and increased resiliency. Support your kids by keeping discussions about your divorce away from their eyes and ears, maintaining consistency in their daily routines as much as possible, and not only refraining from negative talk about their other parent but also encouraging a healthy and positive relationship with them. Even children of the most supportive and encouraging parents might need help processing the emotions that go along with divorce. Kids do not often recognize on their own that they need emotional support, but parents can look for signs that their kids need help. If you see changes in your child’s behavior or personality such as increased anger, aggression, acting out more or differently than usual, or appearing depressed and isolating themselves from things they usually enjoy, then counseling might benefit your child. Talk with other parents or your child’s health care providers to get some ideas about who you might approach about counseling for your child.

If you have questions about your Texas divorce, call (903) 753-7499 today to schedule a consultation with Texas Family Law Attorney Alex Tyra. You can also visit our web page anytime to submit an online contact form.