ABSTRACT
Children at various ages go through different stages of understanding, expressing, and coping with divorce. This chapter discusses how a traumatic stressor, such as divorce, may cripple a child’s ego development and stability. Healthy self-esteem and ego strength may be at the root of developing resiliency, which is needed to overcome these traumas. Parent-child interactions, both positive and negative, affect those roots. These interactions at the time of divorce and thereafter are critical to children in terms of understanding relationships and how they work and in developing their own healthy relationships. Strength in these relationships can help combat other issues that may arise, including self-esteem-related issues, self-blame, or guilt associated with divorce. Art therapy can be used as vehicle for openly expressing concerns and thoughts about divorce without a child verbally communicating them and can assist in promoting healthy ego development. Children can discuss their feelings and thoughts via art in a judgement-free environment where, when their words fail to adequately express their feelings, the art is there to bring them to light.
