Psychological Tasks of Children of Divorce

Obviously, divorce and family separation is a major adjustment for children. Separation can jeopardize a child’s sense of security, create confusion and fear about the future.

In this excellent article Ann Marie Termini writes about the work of an early pioneer in the field of divorce, Judith Wallerstein, identified the psychological tasks children of divorce must master in order to achieve closure of their parents’ separation and move on with their lives.

In order to stay on their developmental paths and develop into well-adjusted adults, she asserted that children must:

• Acknowledge the reality of the divorce.
• Disengage from parental conflict and distress, and resume customary pursuits.
• Deal with loss.
• Resolve anger and self-blame.
• Accept the permanence of the divorce or separation.
• Achieve realistic hope regarding relationships.