Helping kids through divorce

Chris Fulton, PhD Clinical Psychologist, shares advice for parents on how to help their kids through the process of his or her parents getting a divorce with as little difficulty as possible
How to Help Your Children Through A Divorce
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Helping kids through divorce

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You know, when you’re going through a divorce, and you’re trying to help your kids make it through it, you have to try to minimize the other things that happen to them as well. We know as therapists that kids can make it through one big thing, but trying to make it through two or three big things, it’s really difficult. They tend not to be resilient. So what you try to do is keep the schools consistent, you try to not move in that first year. And friendships, you keep them going in the same direction. And you make sure that they have an opportunity to talk to you, because parents often feel like, “Hey, if I bring this up, I’m just going to upset my child.” But no, you actually give them a chance to express things, like, “Hey, I feel like this is my fault.” And you wouldn’t know that if you didn’t talk to them. You’ve got to reassure them, by the way, lots of times that, “Hey, this has nothing to do with you. We’re not divorcing you. You’re going to have both your mom and your dad.”

Chris Fulton, PhD Clinical Psychologist, shares advice for parents on how to help their kids through the process of his or her parents getting a divorce with as little difficulty as possible

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Chris Fulton, PhD

Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Christopher Fulton is a licensed clinical psychologist and has been in private practice for over ten years. He received his doctorate in 1994 from the California School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles. Dr. Fulton has clinical training and experience in a variety of settings, and also has administrative, teaching, supervision, consulting, research and psychological testing experience. Dr. Fulton provides consultation and ongoing therapy for children, adolescents and adults. He conducts group, individual, couples and family therapy and actively works with a variety of childhood disorders, including: adjustment disorder, ADHD, anxiety, depression, oppositional defiant and other emotional-behavioral disorders. Among his most frequent areas of concentration is divorce, for which Dr. Fulton offers therapy for all involved.

Utilizing research-supported methods in treatment, Dr. Fulton's approach to therapy involves a combination of cognitive-behavioral, family systems and interpersonal interventions. In his work with children, Dr. Fulton involves parents and assists them in developing appropriate responses to their children, since he believes that ultimately the parent will make the most significant impact on the child. Dr. Fulton helps parents establish appropriate boundaries, communication and methods of discipline in order to increase positive relationships with their children.

 
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