Divorce is a common occurrence in modern society, but that doesn't mean it's any easier on anybody in the family. Kids, especially, might have a hard time during their parents' divorce. If your divorce is amicable, you might wonder why your children might still need to talk to a counselor. However, no matter what tone your divorce takes, there are some clear benefits of counseling for children. Here are some reasons why your kids might need counseling in a divorce. 

1. Kids don't have an adult's perspective

Your decision to divorce your spouse might make sense in emotional, practical, and healthy ways, but your children may not yet have the cognitive ability to discern those reasons. They also might be too young to understand more complex relationship situations.

As a result, when parents are stressed because of divorce or when one parent moves out, kids can draw their own conclusions based on their limited understanding and world experience. They might believe that they caused their parent to leave because they weren't behaving, that one parent would come back if they changed the way they acted, or that their parents would be friends or get back together by something they did. All of these are unhealthy beliefs that can negatively affect your son or daughter's childhood. 

A counselor can help your child learn about why divorces happen and how to adapt to the change in the relationship. 

2. Kids need to talk without worrying.

With change comes anxiety. Children might worry, for example, if Daddy is safe when he is not there at home. They also can pick up on some of their parents' worries. For example, if financial stress was a factor in your divorce, children might worry about there being enough money for food, but they don't have the world experience to know how the situation will be fixed or resolved. They also might not talk to their parents about their problems in order to avoid adding more stress to their parents' lives. They need a place to speak about their anxiety without feeling responsible for the feelings of the listener. 

3. Kids need healthy ways to process change.

Finally, with divorce comes change. Children may feel angry, sad, or depressed about the changes, and they might feel like they have no control. Those feelings are normal, but they need to be processed in a healthy way. At counseling for families, your children can learn more about their own feelings and how to handle them in a healthy way. 

For more information, contact your local marriage and family therapy professionals.