Children can often be resilient during difficult times like a divorce, but that is not entirely true for all children.
Studies have shown that children who experience trauma show changes in their brain pathways that can change them emotionally and physically. They often can develop an emotional fight or flight response. This can be true for children of divorce.
When you choose mediation or the collaborative family law divorce process, you and your spouse can work with a child mental health specialist to help lessen the chance of lifetime emotional harm that a litigated, traditional court divorce can cause by pitting each of you against one another.
In collaborative divorce, one of the main goals is to work with the couple to develop a co-parenting plan that is agreeable to each person.
To help your child through a divorce, there are several co-parenting tips we often share with our clients:
- Do not use your children as a pawn or leverage against each other
- Decide not to vent to your child about your spouse frustrations
- Let your child speak honestly, without judgment or anger from either of you
- Stop nitpicking about the small details – this is for your child’s wellbeing, not yours
- Utilize a divorce coach to help both of you communicate effectively
- Pair your children with child specialists who can help them work through their emotions that divorce causes
While there are many more tips we can offer to our clients to help their child through the divorce process, we feel the most important foundation is communication with each other.
For over 17 years, working as a Family Law Attorney/Mediator, Kevin Chroman has helped numerous couples reach harmonious agreements in divorce, child custody and spousal support through mediation and the collaborative law process.
Reach an agreement with your spouse in the peaceful, cooperative environment created by the Law Office of Kevin J. Chroman. For a free consultation, contact us today!
Now offering Online Dispute Resolution (ODR).
Note: This information is general in nature and should not be construed as legal/financial/tax/or mental health advice. You should work with your attorney, financial, mental or tax professional to determine what will work best for your situation.
About Kevin J. Chroman
After graduating from law school 20 years ago, Kevin J. Chroman worked with another law firm for two years.
Attorney Chroman became a strong advocate for mediation and family law, and eventually moved into those practice areas and opened his own firm.