PowerPoint on Children of Divorce

1. Implementing Therapeutic Measures
as a Viable Solution to Behavioral
Problems in the Children of Divorced
Parents
By: Gabrielle Reif

2. Introduction
 41-50% of marriages end in divorce
 40% those divorces involve children

3. Original Question
 Is there a correlation between parental divorce and the behavioral problems
among the children involved?

4. Children of All Ages are Effected by
Divorce
 Infants and toddlers
- Have problems sleeping and become short tempered
 Children in early childhood
- Tend to be more angry
 Adolescents
- Are more rebellious
 Children all grow up
- Have lasting negative effect into their personal relationships and future marriage

5. My Proposal
 Therapeutic measures should be required for children of divorce and should
continue for at least one year after the divorce.
 This should be mandated by the courts during divorce cases.

6. Continued
 This time can be extended longer than a year.
 Children will be evaluated before counseling or therapy begins.
 At the initial evaluation the counselor with decide if the child will be required to
attend individual or group therapy/counseling.

7. Individual Therapy/Counseling
 It is one-on-one with a counselor or therapist.
 It gives the child time to express their feelings.
 Helps teach the child how to cope
 More in-depth attention for the child

8. Group Therapy/Counseling
 Children meet in a group of other children.
 Gives children extra support
 Helps children realize they are not alone
 Children will be able to help each other cope.
 Both types of therapy are effective, but it depends on the individual child when
determining which would be most helpful.

9. How This Would Work
 School age children
-attend counseling with school counselor
- In extreme cases the school counselor would recommend a therapist.
 Not school age children
-see a therapist through social services
-meet at home or
-community health center or clinic (suitable by court)

10. Therapy Promotes Healthy Adaptation
 Teens hurt themselves trying to cope with emotional pain, but counseling can help
them cope.
 Every divorce is different and needs a tailored approach.
 Children have questions.
 It helps them to understand that they do not have to choose between parents.
 Therapy also allows parents to focus on themselves and constructing a new living
environment.

11. Diminishing Long-Term Effects
 Have a hard time forming intimate relationships
 Certain traits the parents display carry over to their children.
 The children as adults are more likely to display these negative behaviors and are
more likely to get divorced themselves.
 With counseling there will be a less likely chance that this cycle will continue.

12. Counter Arguments
 Money
 Caseworkers and school counselors are going to have too much work?
 Children are going to be made fun of for going to counseling?
 Parents should be allowed to monitor their children and determine if any problems
arise.
 Why should parents’ freedom of choice for their child be taken away in regards to
counseling post-divorce?
 There is nothing wrong with their child, and counseling does not work.

13. Money
 Schools pay for guidance counselors.
 Therapy can be at little to no cost through social services, free clinics, or
community health centers.

14. Workload
 Work load for caseworker
-Caseworker will have more work but can check up on more than one child at a time.
 Work load of counselors
-Not all children have to be individual counseling.
-Group counseling can minimize the counselors work load.

15. Societal View Has Changed
 Everyone has experienced counseling or knows someone that has.
 Other children will have already gone through the counseling or will be currently
going through it.
 The negative social stigma about counseling is no longer there.

16. The Decision Should Not Lie With Parents
 Many things go unnoticed by parents.
 Children may not have their parents full attention.
 They may not be able to observe the child at school, with peers, and with siblings.
 Therapy is not only to help if behavioral and emotional problems are already there.
 It would be used as a preventative measure.

17. Success Stories
 Example 1 (young girl)
 Example 2 (Reggie)

18. Conclusion
 Yes, there is a correlation between parental divorce and the behavioral problems
among the children involved.
 Therapeutic measures should be required for children of divorce and should
continue for at least one year after the divorce.

19. References
 Amato, P. R. (1996). Explaining the intergenerational transmission of divorce. Journal of Marriage & Family, 58(3), 628-640.
 Arkes, J. (2013). The temporal effects of parental divorce on youth substance use. Substance Use & Misuse, 48(3), 290-
297. doi:10.3109/10826084.2012.755703
 Bank, L., Forgatch, M. S., Patterson, G. R., & Fetrow, R. A. (1993). Parenting practices of single mothers: Mediators of
negative contextual factors. Journal of Marriage & Family, 55(2), 371-384.
 Coates, B. (2008). Divorce with decency: The complete how-to handbook and survivor's guide to the legal, emotional,
economic, and social issues (4th ed.). Honolulu, HI: University of Hawaii Press.
 Coloroso, B. (2000). Parenting through crisis. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
 Divorce Statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved May 2, 2015, from http://www.divorcestatistics.org/
 Find the Right Therapist. (n.d.). Retrieved May 3, 2015, from http://www.goodtherapy.org/therapy-for-divorce.html#
 Gold, L. (1992). Between love and hate: A guide to civilized divorce. New York, New York: Plenum Press.
 Gross.J.J., (2006).Fathers’ Rights (2nd ed.). Naperville, IL: Sphinx Publishing.
 Hetherington, E. M., & Stanley-Hagan, M. (1999). The adjustment of children with divorced parents: A risk and resiliency
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20. References Cont.
 Horowitz,K., Kittler,J. (2013) Understanding and helping adolescents with nonsuicidal self-injurious behavior. Brown University Child &
Adolescent Behavior Letter, 29(12), 1-5.
 Keep your eye on:…joint custody vs. sole custody. (2002). Brown University Child & Adolescent Behavior Letter, 18(5), 2.
 Kline, M., Johnston, J. R., & Tschann, J. M. (1991). The long shadow of marital conflict: A model of children's postdivorce
adjustment. Journal of Marriage & Family, 53(2), 297-309.
 Mahmud, Z., Yunn, Y., Aziz, R., Salleh, A., & Amat, S. (2011). Counseling Children of Divorce. World Applied Sciences (Learning
Innovation and Intervention for Diverse Learners), 14(1), 21-27. Retrieved May 4, 2015, from
http://www.idosi.org/wasj/wasj14(LIDDL)11/4.pdf
 McConville, D. (2013). Treating Children in Families of Divorce. Brown University Child & Adolescent Behavior Letter, 29(12), 1-5.
 Paul, H. A., (2000). Is my child ok?: When behavior is a problem, when it’s not, when to seek help. New York, NY: Dell Publishing.
 Pincus, D.B.(2012). Growing up brave: Expert Strategies for helping your overcome fear, stress, and anxiety. New York, NY: Little,
Brown and Company.
 Portnoy, S. M. (2008). The psychology of divorce: A lawyer's primer, part 2: The effects of divorce on children. American Journal of
Family Law, 21(4), 126-134
 Shaw, D., & Ingoldsby, E. (n.d.). Children of divorce. Retrieved May 5, 2015, from
http://www.pitt.edu/ppcl/publications/chapters/children_of_divorce.htm
 Stewart,T. (2013). The Smart guide to life after divorce. Norman, OK: Smart Guide Publications, Inc.