Blog

By April Thompson, LMFT Imagine you’ve just made a string of three paper dolls and when you pull from both ends to see if it stays together. It indeed rips apart. But where does it rip, right down the middle, where the middle person is connected to either person on the ends? Now imagine this is your child, and either person on the end is yourself and your ex-partner.  This is … [Read more...] about Pulling from Both Ends

By Marvin L. Chapman, Ph.D Parenting is a major influence in the lives of children and adolescents. In an intact family, mothers and fathers take on separate and different roles–mother’s performing some tasks and father’s performing others. When a relationship dissolves, so may these separate roles. When the family reorganizes, the mother and father roles are many times also reorganized. What … [Read more...] about Fathers and Divorce Coaching

By Connie Hornyak Children whose parents are going through a divorce often feel responsible for their parents’ unhappiness.  They sometimes believe that they must have done something to cause the divorce.  As one child put it, ”I wish I could go to a new family so my Mom and Dad could be happy again”. Most children whose parents divorce find themselves torn in their … [Read more...] about The Best Interest of the Child

By Carol Hughes, Ph.D, LMFT How would it benefit your adult children to speak with a Child Specialist during your Collaborative Divorce Process? How would it benefit you, their parents? Research indicates that divorce is life’s second highest stressor, second only to the death of a loved one. If this is true, why is it so common for divorcing parents to assume that their adult children are … [Read more...] about Adult Children of Divorce

By Lois Nightingale, Ph.D What are the qualities that a single parent should look for in someone they are deciding to date? 1. Playful, light and fun with kids. (Kids have an innate instinct about people.) Watch 2. Doesn’t try to make the kids like activities they “should” like. Will accept a child’s declining to participate in an activity that he/she likes. Open to learning about your … [Read more...] about Dating as a Single Parent

By Lois Nightingale, Ph.D Helping your child through your divorce may be one of the most difficult tasks you will ever face as a parent. The following is a brief list of practical tips that can help as you walk through this difficult time with your child. 1. Be honest. Don’t lead your child to believe “dad’s away on business” or “everything is going to be wonderful”. Children are very … [Read more...] about Ten Tips to Help your child through Divorce

By Lois Nightingale, Ph.D Many adults now acknowledge the benefit of a supportive professional as they face the challenges a divorce inevitably brings. But many parents are unsure at what point their child may be exhibiting signs that indicate a need for professional counseling.Many of these signs are similar to the symptoms adults experience when undergoing severe stress. * Sleep … [Read more...] about How Can I Tell if my Child needs Therapy?

By Lois Nightingale, Ph.D Holidays after a divorce can be very difficult. Holidays with children after a divorce can be worse, even terrifying. Whether this is “your year” with the children or not, facing the holidays and knowing that they will be different from previous years can be challenging. The following are some suggestions to help single parents make the most of the holiday season and … [Read more...] about Single Parenting through the Holidays