Divorce Counselling & Child Inclusive Practice

Divorce is a major life transition that can cause significant emotional distress for all family members. High levels of parental conflict, poor communication, and a failure to consider a child's perspective can have a lasting negative impact on their mental health, academic performance, and social development. Child-inclusive practice (CIP) is a specialized approach that recognizes children's unique experience of the separation and provides a safe space for them to be heard. By integrating the child's voice into the process, counselling can help parents make more informed and compassionate decisions, ultimately fostering a healthier post-separation family dynamic.

The objectives of this counselling approach are twofold:

For the Parents:

To facilitate respectful communication and minimize conflict.
To help each parent process the grief and loss associated with the end of the relationship.
To transition the parental relationship from a spousal to a cooperative co-parenting one.
To collaboratively discuss co-parenting issues regarding communication, living arrangements, and other logistics.
To increase parental empathy and understanding of their children's emotional needs during the separation.

For the Children (via Child-Inclusive Practice):

To provide a safe and confidential space for children to express their feelings about the separation.
To ensure children feel heard, understood, and supported.
To provide parents with a greater understanding of their children's perspective and how the divorce is impacting them.
To empower parents with the tools and insights needed to effectively support their children's emotional well-being.

Counselling Approach:

Counselling will follow a structured, multi-stage approach, adapting to the specific needs of the family.

Initial Parent Sessions: The process begins with sessions for the parents to explore the reasons for the separation, address immediate conflicts, and establish a foundation for respectful communication. The importance of the child-inclusive component will be introduced and explained, and parental consent will be obtained.
Child Sessions: If appropriate for the child's age and developmental stage, I will meet with the child(ren) for one or more sessions. These sessions are not therapeutic in nature but are an opportunity for the child to share their thoughts and feelings through age-appropriate activities like drawing, play, or conversation. My role is to listen and understand the child's experience.
Feedback to Parents: I will then provide confidential feedback to the parents in a separate session. The feedback will focus on the key themes and emotional needs expressed by the child, without disclosing specific details or direct quotes. This helps the parents to see the situation from their child's point of view and serves as a powerful catalyst for change.
Final Parent Sessions: The counselling process concludes with the parents, using the insights from the child's feedback to inform their co-parenting plan. The focus will be on developing specific, actionable strategies that address the child's needs and create a stable, supportive environment for them moving forward.

Expected Outcomes:

The expected outcomes of this comprehensive counselling approach include:

A significant reduction in parental conflict and improved co-parenting communication.
Children who feel supported, validated, and less anxious about the future.
Parents who are better equipped to respond to their children's emotional needs and who have a greater sense of shared purpose in raising their children.
A successful and healthy transition for the entire family into their new post-separation dynamic.

Thrive with Therapy is a Child Safe Environment.