Therapy for Teens of Divorce in Oradell, NJ
Is Your Teen Struggling Because of Divorce?
- Have you noticed your child becoming more withdrawn, quiet, or “not themselves” since the divorce?
- Is your child struggling with transitions between homes or reacting strongly to visitation schedules?
- Perhaps your child avoid talking about the divorce or shut down when the topic comes up?
- You may be feeling unsure how to support your child through these big emotional changes?
- Has your child been expressing sadness, anger, or confusion about the separation?
Divorce is a Big Change for Parents and Teens
Divorce is a big change in a adolescent’s life. When parents separate or divorce, adolescents often experience more than just a change in living arrangements. You may notice changes in their mood, behavior, or sense of security. They might seem more withdrawn, anxious, angry, confused, or sad. Sometimes they begin struggling at school, difficulties concentrating, or sudden mood swings. Maybe they’re acting out, avoiding friends, or seem “not themselves.”
Even if you work hard to keep things stable, divorce can trigger fears of abandonment, uncertainty, loss of routines, or concerns about where they belong. Adolescents may internalize stress, blame themselves, or feel responsible for parental conflict. Sometimes they are just confused and do not know how to handle all of their emotions.
If you are seeing any of these behaviors, counseling may be something you would like to explore. Counseling can help both your teen and you navigate your divorce related to your teen and ease the transition. Anew Counseling Services has treated many teens facing a divorce in their family and has helped them develop coping skills and healthy ways to manage and communicate their feelings.
Send Me a Message
Divorce Touches Many Lives
Many times, parents carry a level of guilt when getting divorced and worry about how it will impact their children. Nearly one-third of American children experience their parents’ divorce before reaching adulthood. Every year in the U.S., over 1 million children are directly affected by their parents’ separation or divorce.
These numbers reflect how widespread this issue is. Divorce touches countless lives, and its impact on children is real.
While many children eventually adjust and thrive, research shows that up to 25% of children whose parents divorce experience ongoing emotional or behavioral difficulties — compared to about 10% of children from intact, two-parent families.
Why Do Some Teens Struggle More Than Others?
There are so many different variables that can contribute to why teens react differently. Some factors often include the level of conflict between parents, changes in their living arrangement, struggling with maintaining a relationship with both parents, lack of emotional support, or being placed in the middle of both parents.
The good news: these are risk factors, not inevitabilities. Counseling can help teens to adapt over time by giving them the support they need and helping families to navigate this change in the family system.
How Therapy Can Help Teens During Divorce
Going through a divorce can feel like someone has gotten your life, thrown it up in the air, and you are just watching the pieces fall. That can be hard for an adult, but imagine how hard it can be for a teen. And sometimes, as a parent, it can be hard to fully support your teen when you are trying to navigate this ever changing situation yourself. Finding a therapist who has experience working with teens and families can make a world of a difference in helping your teen cope.
What You Can Expect in Sessions
Before our first session, I will ask you and your teen to fill out paperwork asking questions about their history and current struggles. In our first session, we will speak more in depth about the paperwork and I will talk to both you and your teen about how the current divorce is affecting them. From there, we will work together to help your teen cope better with the divorce and reduce negative reactions they may be having.
Strategies to Help Support Your Teen Through Divorce
Mindfulness Based Techniques
Mindfulness techniques teach individuals to gently shift their attention toward the present moment.
Through practices such as deep breathing, grounding exercises, and guided awareness, mindfulness activates the body’s natural calming response. For many people, mindfulness becomes a practical, everyday tool.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT helps identify unhelpful thoughts and beliefs and replace them with more balanced, realistic ways of thinking. You also learn behavior strategies that reinforce healthier patterns.
CBT strengthens your ability to understand and change the relationship between your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
Emotion Focused Work
Emotion-focused work helps adolescents understand, name, and safely express the feelings that can come up when life around them is changing. Instead of holding everything inside or acting out in ways they don’t fully understand, adolescents learn how to make sense of their emotions with the support of a therapist.
All of these modalities can help adolescents adjust through their parents divorce in a healthier, calmer manner. I blend all of three of these together while also using other techniques throughout counseling.
Why Anew Counseling Services for Therapy for Children of Divorce?
I have counseled many adolescents going through a divorce, both amicable divorces and more complex ones too. Having worked with teens for over 17 years, I know how to connect with them to get them talking and open up about their feelings, which is so important when a divorce is happening. I will always provide them a warm and safe space that offers support throughout the divorce and after.
Common Questions About Adolescents and Divorce
My adolescent seems fine. Do they really need therapy?
Many times adolescents mask how they feel. Just because your adolescents may seem okay on the outside does not mean they are not struggling on the inside.
Will bringing in a therapist stir up feelings more and make things worse?
I can completely understand why you could think this. Therapy does bring up feelings because we are talking about feelings.
My ex and I disagree that our teen needs help. What should I do?
Typically I only need one parent to consent to treatment unless your child custody arrangement says something different. In addition, I would be more than happy to speak to both parents about the benefit of counseling.
Help Support Your Teen Through Divorce
Lastest Posts
Therapy for Teens of Divorce Oradell, NJ
617 Oradell Ave, Oradell, NJ, 07649