If you’re going through a divorce, it may be tempting to tell your attorney everything. After all, this is a person who’s seen the end of so many marriages, surely they must have good advice, right? Well, although attorneys do have a unique perspective, they probably aren’t the best place to go for mental health advice. Not only are they unqualified to be therapists, they’re also going to charge a lot more than a therapist would charge you. For this reason, a good family law attorney will encourage you to find a qualified mental health professional to help you cope with the difficulties of divorce. And not having to pay an attorney’s hourly rate is only one benefit of therapy.
Processing Emotions
A lot of people don’t realize just how beneficial therapy can be for people. Due to the stigma surrounding mental health that is still very much alive today, many people want to believe that they aren’t the type to need therapy. However, divorce is often considered one of the most traumatic events a person can go through. It’s commonly stated it’s trauma similar to having a death in the family. Because of this, the emotional turmoil caused by divorce can inspire people to act out and cope in unhealthy ways. Having a therapist to discuss the powerful emotions you’re struggling with can help you process them in a healthy way. Although being vulnerable may be uncomfortable at first, going through therapy may be able to help you reduce the trauma associated with divorce.
Developing Healthy Coping Skills
It’s not uncommon for people to turn to self destructive behaviors while coping with the divorce process. Though some of these behaviors alleviate pain in the moment, they often cause more problems in the long run. The goal of most therapists is to help their clients develop healthy coping skills so they can work through their emotions in an effective and healthy way, eventually without the help of therapy. A lot of people struggle with making emotional decisions about their divorce and their future after the divorce. Establishing effective coping skills can also help you make rational decisions as opposed to making emotional decisions.
Helping You Process Periods of Marital Dissatisfaction
For a lot of couples, divorce comes after years of marital unhappiness and dissatisfaction. If you’ve had a rough couple of years leading up to your divorce, you may have a lot of emotions surrounding those difficult years. It isn’t uncommon for these emotions to build up and then come out during the divorce process. Regularly meeting with a qualified mental health professional can help you heal from the past few years along with helping you cope with the divorce process. A lot of people feel as though they themselves and their spouse have made mistakes that have contributed to the divorce. And part of healing from the past may mean forgiving yourself for any mistakes you may have made. Having a therapist may be an essential part of this process.
Helping You Be There for Your Kids
Divorce is often difficult for every member of the family. Many children, especially younger ones, have a very hard time understanding why the divorce is happening and what the future holds for them. Although every parent wants to be strong for their children in their child’s time of need, some parents find being present very difficult during the divorce process. Going to therapy can help you sort through your emotions so you can be more supportive for your children when they’re struggling through the divorce. If custody is an issue in your divorce, attending therapy may help you be a more stable parent for your child, which may help you get more parent-time.
Reducing Your Chances of Acting Out
Most importantly, having a therapist can help reduce your chance of making poor decisions and/or behave in a way that could negatively impact your divorce. For example, many people who are suffering through the divorce process are tempted to bash their exes on Facebook. Although this may feel good at the moment, it could come back to haunt you in court. Your snarky status update may be blown up on poster board and used to show that you have no problem bad-mouthing your ex and could alienate the children. Developing good coping skills and working through your emotions in therapy may reduce your chances of acting out in ways that can damage your reputation both in court and outside of court.
Get the Right Advice
If you’re ready for divorce, having legal representation can be just as important as having the right mental health care. Many people find that the divorce process is confusing and overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be. At CoilLaw, our talented legal team can help protect your rights and advocate for you during the divorce process. If you’re ready to start the divorce process, contact CoilLaw today.
