Has anyone put their kid in therapy? :(

[bostonrunnah]

My parents didn't officially divorce until I was 24, but holy hell I wish I'd been in therapy as a child. "Staying together for the kids" = Making everyone's lives miserable until they move out and then even after because the kid's had to live in a clusterfuck of a household and never got to experience peace and now have issues with anxiety and abandonment fears. But that's just my experience lol

Regardless, you're doing the very right thing and anyone can tell that you're trying to do right by your babies. I salute you seeing the beginning stages of what could be bad and trying to nip it in the bud now. You're a great mom and I wish my own mother had half the balls that you did getting out of a crap relationship and trying to make the best life she could for her children.

[Deleted]

I don't have kids in therapy, but I work in a mental health office. At one point I was working as the intake person and I got to see a lot of these kids as they were coming in. There were many parents like you who just wanted their kids to be able to talk to someone about what they were feeling and get advice from the therapist about how to help them.

Most kids I saw had the attitude that the whole thing was no big deal. And most therapists are quick to emphasize that what they are going through or feeling is normal and that it's safe to talk about it.

I hope I'm not coming off like I'm trying to be an expert. Good luck with counseling, and I think you're doing a wonderful thing for her.

[Deleted]

I'm a family law attorney, and a huge proponent of therapy after divorce - both for kids, as well as co-parenting counseling for the parents.

Putting a child in therapy during and/or after a divorce is never a bad thing. You are a good mom for doing it. However, also know that kids are hugely affected by how divorced parents co-parent. Many people think that the divorce is what has the most negative impact on a child, when it's actually how the parents co-parent after the divorce that can have the biggest effect. Kids pick up on any tension between the divorced parents, and really have a hard time if they overhear or are directly told negative things about the other parent. None of this may be an issue with your divorce, but if it is or ever becomes an issue, co-parenting counseling can be fantastic for divorced parents to help them learn to put the past aside and work together so the kids can thrive.

Good luck to you and your kids!

[Deleted]

If you're still worried she'll feel singled out can you send both girls at least once?

[vajeana]

I absolutley could. The first session next week, the therapist wants both girls to come.

[BravoBravo]

I remember being in a support group/counseling in elementary school when my parents were going through their divorce.