Due to recent conflict in your home, you have decided that you need to divorce your spouse for the safety and wellbeing of yourself and your children. However, you are concerned about how the trauma of domestic violence will impact your children and their future relationships. You know that despite your best efforts to hide the ongoing tension and physical abuse in your relationship, that there were times that your children witnessed domestic violence. At Fried and Fried, P.A., we have helped many people in Florida to work through the complications resulting from domestic abuse.
Your concern for the welfare of your children is justified and something that should be addressed immediately if you are to have any chance at facilitating the process of helping them to heal completely. According to womenshealth.gov, some of the proactive steps that you can take to help your children when they have witnessed domestic violence include the following:
- Help them understand which behaviors are acceptable and which are not. Talk to them about creating boundaries in future relationships that will protect them. Discuss the importance of being assertive and standing up for themselves.
- Do whatever you can to help them feel safe. Get their input about what changes can be made to help calm their fears. Even if you do not include details, share evidence that a solution is being implemented to prevent further abuse.
- Enlist the help of a professional therapist or psychologist who is experienced in helping children overcome difficult situations. Encourage your children to continue maintaining important relationships with people who will provide support and help with healing.
By implementing these suggestions into your dedicated efforts to help your children heal, you can give them a very real chance at overcoming the challenges they are facing because of the domestic violence they have witnessed. For more information about divorce, visit our web page.
