CALL 800-781-8281 TO GET HELP NOW

How to help your teenager handle your divorce

No parent wants to go through a divorce, especially if they have children. When you have teenage children it is even harder, as they are not babies who do not understand what is happening. Most divorces are initiated by one party and the other parent can feel overwhelmed by misery and pain and have little time left for their teenager. The parent who leaves, will feel guilt and a certain amount of anger at feeling guilty, mixed emotions, but quite normal for this situation.

The teenager feels betrayed, overwhelmed and upset. They may well feel anger, not always at the leaving parent, often at the remaining one, for allowing the situation to happen. This will seem cruelly unfair to the parent trying to keep the household together and functioning normally.

Before the divorce there may well be a period of time during which the relationship is breaking down before the teenagers eyes, rows and shouting and miserable silences with no explanation given by either parent as to what is happening. Parents struggling with the end of their partnership rarely talk to their teenagers about what is going on, too wrapped up in their own misery they fail to see the harm they are doing to their children. Teenagers need security, emotional security above all else; they are poorly equipped to handle uncertainty and disruption to their routines. They may complain about their parents and the boring family life they have, but they expect it to be there, as a constant in the background.

Divorce, however handled, is messy and emotional and frequently financially punitive. Your teenager needs to know what is happening, or they will imagine far worse. They need explanations from both of their parents, not blame or recrimination, but clear honest discussion about how their lives will change. The effects of the divorce will impact them directly and they need to be prepared for this. They may not be able to enjoy all the activities they did previously, they may need to move house, or even school and if this is sprung on them at the last minute, they will hate the parents for not telling them earlier.

Divorce, however handled, is messy and emotional and frequently financially punitive. Your teenager needs to know what is happening, or they will imagine far worse. They need explanations from both of their parents, not blame or recrimination, but clear honest discussion about how their lives will change. The effects of the divorce will impact them directly and they need to be prepared for this. They may not be able to enjoy all the activities they did previously, they may need to move house, or even school and if this is sprung on them at the last minute, they will hate the parents for not telling them earlier.

FEELING STUCK? CONTACT US

Call 800-781-8281 or fill out the form below and we'll contact you ASAP.


Do you have an Aetna PPO insurance plan? Or is your child adopted from California? If so, you may qualify for financial assistance. Contact us today.

New Posts

Parent gives his thoughts about teen boot camps...

Read More...

(NEW!!) Guest Expert Dawn DiRaimondo, Psy.D


(New) Troubled Teens and Routines Read More...

(New) Troubled Teen Assessments Read More...

(New) Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Read More...

(New) Authority Problems Read More...

(New) Boarding Schools for Troubled Teens Read More...

(New) Boarding Schools for Troubled Teens in Colorado Read More...

(New) Cutting or Self-Harm Read More...

(New) Oppositional Defiant Disorder Read More...

(New) Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Read More...

(New) Residential Treatment Centers for Troubled Teens in Illinois Read More...

(New) Residential Treatment Centers for Troubled Teens in Nevada Read More...

(New) Residential Treatment Centers for Troubled Teens in Texas Read More...

(New) School Problems Read More...

(New) Substance Abuse Treatment Centers for Troubled Teens in Arizona Read More...

(New) Substance Abuse Treatment Centers for Troubled Teens in California Read More...

(New) Substance Abuse Treatment Centers for Troubled Teens in Colorado Read More...

(New) Substance Abuse Treatment Centers for Troubled Teens in Florida Read More...

(New) Substance Abuse Treatment Centers for Troubled Teens in Illinois Read More...

(New) Substance Abuse Treatment Centers for Troubled Teens in Nevada Read More...

(New) Substance Abuse Treatment Centers for Troubled Teens in New YorkRead More...

(New) Substance Abuse Treatment Centers for Troubled Teens in Ohio Read More...

(New) Substance Abuse Treatment Centers for Troubled Teens in Orange County CA Read More...

(New) California Adoption Read More...

(New) Teens & Sexting Read More...

(New) Divorce and Teen Rebellion Read More...

(New) Christian Boot Camps.. Read More...

(New) Is Boot Camp Tough? Read More...

(New) Boot Camps & Boarding Schools Read More...

(New) Therapeutic Boarding School or Teen Boot Camp Read More...

(New) Therapeutic Schools for Boys Read More...

(New) What is a Summer Boot Camp for Teens? Read More...

(New) Are there any affordable schools or boot camps for troubled teens Read More...

(New) Are there any boarding schools, or boot camps for troubled boys Read More...

(New) Are there any military schools or boot camps for troubled girls Read More...

(New) Boot Camp School for Troubled Youth Read More...

(New) Is a military boarding school similar to a boot camp for troubled teen Read More...

(New) Is a military school for a troubled teen the same as a boot camp Read More...

(New) Is a school for troubled girls similar to a boot camp Read More...

(New) Is a school for troubled youth similar to a boot camp Read More...

(New) Which is better, boot camp or boarding school for a troubled teen Read More...

(New) What is Oppositional Defiant Disorder? Read More...

(New) Are there any Boot Camps for Kids? Read More...

(New) Are Wilderness Therapy Programs Effective? Read More...

(New) How Can I Find Help For My Troubled Teen? Read More...

(New) How Do I Find A Boot Camp For A Teenager? Read More...

(New) How Do I find A Boot Camp For Boys? Read More...

(New) What is the best way to find a troubled teen program? Read More...

Boot Camps In Specific CITIES

Los Angeles CA, Chicago IL, Washington DC San Francisco, Philidelphia PA, Boston MA Detroit MI, Dallas TX, Houston TX, Atlanta GA Miami FL, Seattle WA, Phoenix AZ, Minneapolis MN, Cleveland OH, San Diego CA, St Louis MO, Denver CO, Tampa FL, Pittsburgh PA, Portland OR, Sacramento CA, Kansas City MO, Milwaukee WI, Orlando FL, Indianapolis IN, San Antonio TX, Norfolk VA, Las Vegas NV, Columbus OH, Charlotte NC, New Orleans