Q: Family Therapy for kids

I am coming from a Dv Relationship and my younger kids 9 and 8 can be mouthy and disrespectful was wondering what kind of therapy would be good for them.

Posted by galinda

A: Answer from alyssaslan

Children may exhibit a wide range of reactions to being in a DV situation.  Younger childrem, such as yours, may not fully understand the meaning of the abuse they observe and tend to self-blame.  This can lead to feelings of worry, anxiety and even guilt.  It is important to consider that young children cannot always express themselves verbally and, because of this, may show their emotions behaviorally.  Children may become withdrawn, socially and verbally.  They may show regresssion in their behavior or may show aggresion themselves.  They may also experience sleep or eating difficulties, and general anxiety and complaints. 

I would also recommend play therapy and family therapy with someone who has experience in dealing with DV.   This will provide the children with a safe environment to explore and express their emotions about the situation and learn more effective ways to communicate what they are feeling. 

Best of luck,

Alyssa Slansky, MA.LMFT