Counseling Before, During, and After Divorce
If
you think you may benefit from counseling, you should probably seek counseling.
Marriage counseling can be beneficial during your marriage, if you and your
spouse are struggling in your relationship and would like to determine what is
best for your family.
Seeking
counseling during and after a divorce is a good idea for both you and your
child(ren) because it can help you deal with your feelings associated with the divorce.
A therapist can provide support as you resolve lingering feelings, work through
mourning the marriage, and begin the path toward a normal, healthy life post-divorce.
Navigating Change
Divorce
can be a stressful time, due to the changes occurring in your life. A therapist
can help you identify the negative ways stress may impact your life. Once you identify
how you are affected, your therapist can help you identify and implement healthy
coping mechanisms.
It
is easy to feel alone during and after a divorce. A therapist can help you realize
you are not alone by encouraging you to lean on your support system of family
and friends, or to even make new friends who are going through similar
experiences.
Once
you are ready to begin dating again, your therapist can help you to identify
what went wrong in your past relationship(s), and how you can avoid those
issues in future relationships. Your therapist can also guide you as you sort
through changes in your finances, routines, friendships, etc.
The Effect of Divorce on Your Kids
While
the parties in a divorce need therapy to recover from the end of a marriage, it
is important to remember that a divorce can also be a difficult time in the
life of your kids. Children need a safe space to process, talk through, heal,
and rebuild following the breakup of their family.
The
children need to know that the divorce was not their fault, and their parents
can maintain a courteous and respectful relationship as they continue to
coparent the children.
Your Attorney is Not Your Therapist
It
is important to remember that the trained professionals in your life each have distinct
purposes. Your attorney's job is to represent your best interests in court, and
your therapist should help you to talk through and grapple with your emotions regarding
your divorce.
Since
your attorney likely bills you by the hour, a discussion with your attorney regarding
your feelings during your divorce will be much more expensive than it would be with
your therapist.
If
you are in need of assistance with your mental health, please contact your
health insurance provider or the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and
Developmental Disabilities.
Written
by: Rebekah Ann James