ROOM 710
Children whose parents are divorcing often take on adult responsibilities in order to maintain a semblance of their former family structure. Treatments tend to focus on allowing these children to continue developing at an age-appropriate rate, and alleviating the burden of adult responsibilities that has been placed upon them by a parent—or even by the children themselves. However, there are instances where the adults are unable to resume the responsibility of being a parent, and this prevents these children from giving up their internalized parental roles. This paper will explore the process through case studies and discussion, highlighting dynamic themes that include the loss of innocence, the nature of resilience, and the far-reaching impact of custody disputes on the emotional and mental health of children. Ways to integrate the arts for cross-modal attunement will be addressed.
Eligible for 1.5 Credits: ATCB, NBCC; ASWB, APA, MFT, Nursing; SWNYS
