At all stages of the breakup, divorcing spouses may need a helping hand, a cold eye and warm heart that a competent counselor can provide.

Family counseling helps divorcing parents deal with sensitive issues, such as visitation, support and custody. Many children benefit greatly from counseling during what, for them, is the most overwhelming experience of their young lives.

After the divorce, some people experience what is known as post-traumatic stress disorder, a psychological disorder that follows a period of intense strain or a series of traumatic events.

Post-traumatic stress is normally associated with a defined episode. The stress of a divorce on both parents and children should not be minimized, and spouses should never rule out counseling for either themselves individually or with their children.

Finding the right counselor or therapist is not difficult. Clergy, doctors, and lawyers are professionals who may be in touch with the right people. Community mental health agencies, family service organizations, college counseling and school services, the YMCA-YWCA, and hospital out-patient clinics are also worth a call.

Single-parent families, a term that usually refers to female head of a household, find counseling helpful because they face difficult financial situations in addition to the pain and suffering, dislocation and turmoil associated with divorce.

Resources: The Divorce Source Directory of Counseling Professionals offers assistance in located an appropriate counsel or therapist. the directory provides a description of each professional’s experience and an in-depth biography of his or her educational experience and qualifications.

Sometimes troubles finances stress and capsize a marriage. Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS), a nonprofit organization that helps people in financial trouble manage problems, works in both preventative and therapeutic ways. CCCS works to establish the cooperation of creditors and can map debt repayment plans before and after a divorce.

See also Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; Single-Parent Families; Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS).

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