When a couple separates, the entire family faces challenges.
I help adults and children manage the emotional crises that arise throughout separation and divorce. I help them conquer stresses and fears, and transition into their new lives.
Parenting is not easy. Parenting before, during and after separation and/or divorce, is even more challenging. I help parents master those challenges and develop the skills they need to help their children prepare for and then adapt to, and succeed in, their new circumstances.
Children, no matter what their age, benefit from assistance during what they often feel is an upheaval of their entire life. I help children and teens adapt to their parents’ separation and divorce. I help them cope with the grief, loss and sense of abandonment they may be feeling. I help them deal with the mixed emotions they may experience. I help them manage changing responsibilities and expectations and learn to maintain positive relationships with both parents.
When working with me, family members know that they will always be heard, understood and never judged. They open up and talk in ways in which they often have never been able to do before. My warm, accepting, non-judgmental, family-centred approach is instrumental in helping family members resolve conflicts they encounter and improve the relationship between parent and child and the family as a whole.
I help families experiencing separation and divorce with such matters as:
Child and Adolescent Issues including:
- Preparation for separation and divorce
- Coping with grief, loss and the sense of abandonment
- Dealing with emotions like anger, sadness and fears
- Changing responsibilities and expectations
- Maintaining relationships with both parents
- Adapting to parents having new partners
- Adapting to separation and divorce
Adult Issues including:
Personal Concerns:
- Adapting to separation and divorce
- Coping with grief, loss and sense of abandonment
- Dealing with depression, anger, sadness and fears
- Handling loneliness and feelings of isolation
- Changing responsibilities and expectations
- Developing independence: rediscovering yourself
- Relating to you former partner
- Career and life planning
- Relationships and dating: balancing your needs and those of your child or children
Parenting Concerns:
- Understanding your children’s reactions to the separation and its aftermath
- Strategies for supporting your children’s adjustment
- Communicating effectively with children and adolescents
- Building the parent-child relationship
- Responding to your children’s concerns
Concerns with Former Spouse:
- Reducing post-separation conflict
- Dealing with your former partner regarding the children
- Developing parenting plans
- Shared parenting
Concerns Regarding Remarriage:
- Strengthening the marital relationship
- Blending families: roles, expectations and difficulties
- Step-parenting: roles, relationships and discipline