Divorce

Jack’s parents divorced last spring and still his angry outbursts continue towards his dad. At times he seems happy and enjoys hanging out with his high school friends, going to the movies, but on other days he withdraws from everyone and isolates himself in his room, just staring into space. During these times it is almost impossible for either parent to “get anything out of him.” He’s just “locked up,” his mother says. Jack is suffering from the effects of his parent’s divorce and may need special help processing it in a healthy way.

Statistics show that half of America’s kids will witness the breakup of their parent’s marriage, some even seeing the ending of their second marriage as well. Other studies report that teens from single parent homes and blended families are three times more likely to need psychological help. The effects of divorce include aggression, anxiety, higher school drop-out rates, delinquency, substance use and abuse, and earlier sexual activity.

As a Christian therapist, I seek to understand and empathize with teens dealing with the effects of divorce, providing an outlet for difficult emotions and clarifying beliefs about themselves, their parents and God. I assist in facilitating understanding and communication between parents and teens, and help navigate and resolve challenging issues, with the goal of assisting in the adjustment process and minimizing long term effects.