How to Support Your Child in Counseling During Divorce

When your child begins counseling during or after a divorce, you probably want to do everything you can to make sure it helps. But sometimes, even well-intentioned parents can unintentionally make the process harder. In this episode, Michael Flores, LPC-S, and Arrianna Cervantes, LPC-Associate, talk about how parents can collaborate with their child's counselor while still giving their child the space they need for therapy to work.

Michael and Arrianna discuss why counseling should never be used as a punishment or threat, how questions like “Did you tell your counselor the truth?” can unintentionally cause children to filter what they share, and why parents should be careful not to prime children before sessions. They also explore the other side of collaboration: your child's counselor isn't there to investigate which parent is right or wrong. Parents can best support the process by being curious, open, and collaborative—sharing helpful information, remaining receptive when difficult things come up, and keeping the focus on helping their child rather than how they may be perceived by the counselor.

Ultimately, counseling is meant to help children and families develop the tools they need outside of the therapy room. Michael and Arrianna explain how a strong parent-counselor partnership can help children feel more comfortable being themselves, strengthen communication at home, and allow counseling to become a resource for the family rather than another source of conflict.

If you're finding these conversations helpful, subscribe to Beyond Divorce: Embracing Change so you don't miss an episode. Each week, we're sharing practical conversations to help parents better understand their children, navigate conflict, and move their families forward through divorce.