When a parent is disengaged, depressed, or an addict

Chris Fulton, PhD Clinical Psychologist, shares advice for parents on how to help your child when your spouse is disengaged due to addiction or depression
Parenting Tips | When A Parent Is Disengaged, Depressed, Or An Addict
KidsInTheHouse the Ultimate Parenting Resource
Kids in the House Tour

When a parent is disengaged, depressed, or an addict

Comment
42
Like
42
Transcription: 
If you have a spouse that is suffering from alcoholism or depression and is really disengaged from their child, what you need to do is talk to your child about how not to personalize that. That's a really hard thing not to personalize what your parent does. It's important to talk to your child about, "Hey, this doesn't have to do with you. This has to do with an issue that your mom has or that your dad has that she can't overcome. We are working on ways to help her. It's not your job to help her. It's not your job to make this get better. That's something for her to do." You want to make sure that you tell the child not to personalize it or to take ownership to make it their cause to help their parent because then you will have a whole other set of issues to deal with.

Chris Fulton, PhD Clinical Psychologist, shares advice for parents on how to help your child when your spouse is disengaged due to addiction or depression

Transcript

Expert Bio

More from Expert

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.

 
More Parenting Videos from Chris Fulton, PhD >
Enter your email to
download & subscribe
to our newsletter