Start of the group from 13 September
Rheine. cpr. In Germany, more than 130,000 children are affected by the separation or divorce of their parents every year. Already each third marriage is divorced. An increasing tendency is to be observed after the two-year Corona situation. For the children, the separation or divorce of their parents means that they have to deal with a profound reorganization of their living environment. The “inner chaos” in this upheaval situation is not infrequently expressed in the affected boys and girls in physical symptoms or behavioral problems. Children become conspicuously sad, withdraw, steal or drop significantly in their performance at school. The range of possible reactions to the divorce situation is diverse.
In the group, the children work with the staff of the counseling center on a playful and linguistic level to find help for their new life situation. Hopes for a possible reunion of the parents are discussed, strategies for solving emotional problems are practiced, and child-friendly information on legal terms is given. In any case, a significant relief effect for the children comes from the mutual exchange between the boys and girls. Parallel to the group program for the children, work with parents is offered. Here, parents are supported in understanding the perspective of their children and in distinguishing between the “couple level” and the “parent level” in their own reactions to the separation and divorce situation.
Plans are to start this year’s group for children of separation and divorce on September 13. Six children between the ages of 9 and 11 will deal with the topic of separation and divorce in a protected setting during ten group meetings.
Interested parents from Rheine, Neuenkirchen and Wettringen can call Marlies Suthoff and Christian Niemann at the counseling center at Lingener Straße 13 in Rheine on 05971 862-261 for more information and to register their children.