The document proposes that therapeutic measures such as counseling should be mandated by courts for children of divorce for at least one year after the divorce. Counseling can help children cope with their emotions, understand the divorce, and diminish long-term negative effects. While it may increase workload and costs, proponents argue that counseling can help prevent behavioral problems from arising and is more effective than letting parents monitor problems. Mandating counseling could help break the cycle of children of divorcees being more likely to divorce themselves as adults.

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
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20. References Cont.
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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
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 Shaw, D., & Ingoldsby, E. (n.d.). Children of divorce. Retrieved May 5, 2015, from
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 Stewart,T. (2013). The Smart guide to life after divorce. Norman, OK: Smart Guide Publications, Inc.