Some of the statistics are well known, if still jarring: One of two marriages contracted will end in divorce. More than a million children each year experience their parents' divorce. Other figures are less publicized: Diagnosable psychological problems occur in 30%--40% percent of individuals whose parents divorce -- a rate three times higher than that for individuals whose families remain together. Divorce and Co-parenting explores the impact of divorce on adolescents and young adults, drawing on anecdotes from the authors' own medical and law practices to illustrate how parents' decision-making can powerfully impact their children's well-being before, during, and after a divorce -- even into adulthood. This volume, a revised edition of How to Help Your Children Overcome Your Divorce -- originally published in the 1990s -- is updated to reflect significant changes in family dynamics, technology and social media, and the matrimonial legal landscape over the past 30 years. This guide offers new methods of alternative dispute resolution, including mediation, arbitration, collaborative law, and parenting coordinators, as it addresses a wide variety of family situations, such as the following: Uninvolved or absent noncustodial parents Parents with mental illness Incarcerated parents LGBTQ parents or children Sexually or physically abused children Although written to be a multidisciplinary resource for professionals in many settings -- among them, psychiatrists, social workers, pediatricians, and attorneys -- Divorce and Co-Parenting is written in an accessible, easily digestible style. This makes the book applicable for parents, grandparents, teachers, and even adolescents looking for practical information on mitigating the effects of divorce on the family.
ContributorsAcknowledgmentsChapter 1. It's a Different World NowChapter 2. The Decision to Divorce: Putting Children FirstChapter 3. How to Tell Your Children About Your DivorceChapter 4. Minimizing the Effects of the Legal Process on Your ChildrenChapter 5. Impact of Divorce on ChildrenChapter 6. Impact of Divorce on ParentingChapter 7. Parenting Time and Related IssuesChapter 8. Special Parenting IssuesChapter 9. Parenting Techniques to Build Your Child's Self-EsteemChapter 10. Discipline as Guide and TeacherChapter 11. Making Use of Others' SupportChapter 12. Danger Signals: When Is Professional Help Needed?Chapter 13. Adjusting to Life in a StepfamilyChapter 14. Questions and AnswersChapter 15. Additional Resources and Helpful Organizations for Divorced ParentsIndex
