Divorce Healing

Divorce can have a devastating impact on families

As a psychologist, I work with many individuals, couples, and families who are affected by divorce. I see the destructive effects that breakups can have and am dedicated to helping people develop the skills to cope with experiences like divorce.

Major Disruptions

The decision to divorce causes major changes in the lives of all family members. Some upheaval is inevitable. The main trouble areas are:

• Financial: Money becomes a huge problem for most people. The cost of a divorce is extremely high, and two households cost more than one.
• Career: Being less focused at work and spending time away from the job for divorce-related appointments takes its toll.
• Logistics: Running your home is more difficult because you no longer have a partner to help with daily chores.
• Emotional: Most people have periods of depression, sadness, anger, and fatigue.

Lots of Feelings

People who are experiencing the breakup of their marriage can expect to have a wide variety of feelings. Some call it "the crazy time" and one can truly feel "crazy" when going through such intense emotions. The following complaints are common:

• Poor concentration
• Nightmares
• Sleep problems
• Fatigue
• Mood swings
• Feeling tense
• Nausea
• Gaining/losing weight
• Feeling nervous
• Somatic complaints

Divorce profoundly affects children. Some of the following issues are possible issues your children will display.

Fear: Divorce is frightening to children, and they often respond with feelings of anxiety. Children feel more vulnerable after a divorce in part because family and community has become fragmented. Often "grandma and grandpa" live thousands of miles away and are no longer a support as they use to be.

Fear of abandonment: Children often believe that the primary caretaker will abandon them. Confusion: The children in divorcing families become confused about their relationships with their parents. They see their parents' relationship fall apart and sometimes conclude that their own relationship with one or both parents could dissolve, as well.

Sadness and yearning: Children are often openly sad and yearning for the absent parent. Knowing how to deal with this is important to good adjustment.

Worry: Children are often concerned about one or both of their parents' ability to cope with their lives. They wondered if their parents were emotionally stable and able to make it on their own. They see the pain and at times tears and see it as an inability to deal. It is important for the parent to make it clear that they can handle it and all will survive.

Children also feel...

Rejection, Loneliness, Divided loyalties, and Anger: It is important that these feeling are addressed and dealt with as unresolved divorce issues can have long term affects on children.

Dr. Davis has worked with hundreds of divorcing and divorced families and has helped families, children and spouses through such a tragic and emotional event. Dr. Davis understands the pains of divorce and can help you recover and reassemble.

For more information on divorce recovery and coping check out these articles and resources.

How Divorce Impacts Families
Learn how devastating divorce can be to a family and some ways to lessen the impact and improve the future of those involved.

Divorce recovery strategies

Divorce recovery for women — http://divorcerecoveryadvice.com/

Christian article for divorce recovery — http://www.crosswalk.com/marriage/11582907/

Amazon book for divorce recovery

MP-3 on dating after divorce