Divorce presents a difficult situation within the family. It produces depression and anxiety in the spouses as well as the children they have together. Children of divorced parents are known to act out due to the internal strains they are feeling. They may even experience high levels of sickness from a lack of sleep.
Parents can get help for their children going through a divorce via brief online programs. There are several programs available, though some are more suitable than others. They provide parents with simple tools so they can reduce conflict between themselves and their spouses to create a healthier environment for their children.
Online programs that aid parents in reducing conflict during a divorce sound good on paper, but do they really work? Studies show they do. Recent research reveals that they reduce interparental conflict to improve the child’s behavior. They improve parent-child relationships and the effectiveness of parental discipline.
The eNew Beginnings Program (eNPB) was shown to be particularly effective in resolving divorce-related conflict. It may improve children’s self-esteem, school performance, coping skills, and work competence. It may also reduce mental health problems, drug use, and risky sexual behavior in children of divorced parents with positive changes lasting up to 15 years.
Tele-mental health is becoming a more popular trend in the world of healthcare. It is convenient for both the patient and the doctor. The care can be provided via a smartphone or computer, which cuts down on time and travel expenses.
Telehealth services also tend to be less expensive than in-person treatments. This can be especially beneficial to parents who are feeling the financial strain of divorce.
Different programs may take different approaches, but eNBP is a five-hour program divided into 20 to 30-minute sessions provided over 10 weeks. It takes an interactive approach giving parents tools to strengthen relationships with their children. It helps them come up with family rules that decrease conflict with the other parent and establish guidelines for disciplining their children.
A sample session starts with a check-in that involves parents responding to questions concerning how they are getting along with the tools they have been using. They are provided with suggestions on how to overcome the challenges they may be facing using the tools. They are then introduced to new tools via modeling videos, interactive exercises, and testimonials from parents who have used the program before.
Parents are then prompted to use the tool themselves. They identify barriers using the tools and are provided with strategies to overcome these barriers. They receive downloadable tip sheets on using the tools, sheets they can use to record their progress with the tools, and handbooks that summarize what was covered in the lesson.
Studies of the program were conducted on groups covering a wide range of ethnicities, income, and education levels showing the following results:
● The program helped parents and children to improve relationships, reduce anxiety and depression, improve disciplinary effects, and minimize conflict between spouses.
● The program is equally effective when used by mothers and fathers.
● The online program was just as effective and sometimes more effective than its in-person counterpart. This may be due to its ease of use and interactive characteristics.
● More parents completed the online program as compared to the in-person program.
The online divorce program can be used by any parent that is going through a divorce or has been divorced. There are separate versions for separated and divorced mothers and separated and divorced fathers.
The eNBP is available in 6-week and 10-week formats. The 10-week program allows parents to get more practice with their tools, and it provides more feedback about their progress. A 6-week program is a good option for parents needing to take a parenting class as required by the court.
The program may be assigned to families by a family court if they are experiencing high levels of conflict that are negatively affecting their child’s well-being or if they are having difficulty coming up with a family plan during or after the divorce.
Mental health professionals can also integrate the program in sessions with parents going through a divorce. They can suggest parents complete classes, at home and then have them come in to discuss their progress and any issues they are facing while using the tools assigned to them.
Divorce is not easy for parents or children. Online programs like eNBP provide a convenient way for them to get past their issues so they have fewer problems in the present and future. We wish you the best of luck in overcoming your family conflicts and enjoying optimal mental health and happiness.
