Families Fighting and Changing: Play Therapy with Children of Divorce and Remarriage

A review of recent literature suggests that family violence and divorce have become widespread and increasingly evident in societal attitudes and value systems. Children experiencing divorce and adjusting to blended families have unique therapeutic issues. Participants increase their understanding of the issues and treatment implications, as well as learn specific techniques and conflict resolution skills and interventions. These can be applied in a family systems model of treatment, which is developmentally sensitive and allows for release and safe expression of emotions, processing of traumatic experiences and to adjusting and forming healthy relationships in the family system.