Divorce can be difficult - but there are things you can do to make it less difficult that will give you the best chance to achieve the best possible solutions. Anger, hurt, sadness , confusion, frustration and resentment are very real, reasonable emotions during the divorce process. Staying stuck (or being dragged unwillingly back by the various unending circumstances of the day) in these emotions can completely weaken your reasoning and decision-making abilities. They can also rob you of your future happiness. Humor and laughter can increase your chances of divorce success.

edit Steps

1. 1 Take care of yourself. You may have heard it before and not really followed through, thinking that this would involved a large time or money commitment (e.g. new exercise program, new diet, extra sleep, etc). But taking care of yourself can be simple -- for instance, just laughing more will make you feel better Laughter will improve your mental, emotional, and physiological well-being.
   
   
2. 2 Use your newfound well-being to have a wonderful evening with your children, or to keep your sanity and your peace while your spouse tries to rattle you, or to make a better divorce agreement decision, or to save an expensive call to your divorce lawyer just to vent. One thing is for sure - nothing bad will come of it.
3. 3 Look for new activities to pursue. Are there hobbies that you enjoy or new activities that you would like to explore? It is a good time to get involved in something that distracts your mind from the difficult time you have been going through and gives you a sense of fulfillment and enjoyment. Another idea is to consider volunteering - helping others in need is often a good way to distract you from your own pain.
4. Take a course!  yes thats right, studying can help you work through your problems and also provide you with a unique oppotunity to help others based on your experince.

Develop your ability to effectively counsel and assist clients in times of crisis. This course provides those already in the counselling or helping industries with knowledge and skills to give specialised counselling, and will contribute to comprehensive counselling training for those wishing to work in this field.

Lesson Structure

There are 9 lessons in this course:

1. Understanding methods of crisis intervention What constitutes a crisis and methods of crisis intervention?
2. Ethical, professional and legal issues Current ethical, professional and legal implications of crisis intervention.
3. Dangers of crises and effective intervention Dangers posed by crisis to the individual, the counsellor, and those around them. Determining effective modes of intervention.
4. Developmental Crises Recognising and comprehending crises from a developmental perspective.
5. Post-traumatic stress disorder Symptoms, treatment options and possible outcomes of post-traumatic stress disorder.
6. Violence and sexual assault Effects of violence and sexual assault on the individual, and possible modes of intervention.
7. Crisis and drug addiction Determining the relationship between crises and drug dependence.
8. Family crises Major issues raises in family crises and appropriate methods of intervention.
9. Crises and cultural issues Cultural influences on crisis situations.

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Aims

• Identify what constitutes a crisis and to discuss methods of crisis intervention
• Discuss current ethical, professional and legal implications of crisis intervention.
• Explain the dangers posed by crises to the individual, the counsellor and those around them during crisis intervention, and to determine effective modes of intervention.
• Identify and explain crises evolving from a developmental perspective.
• Explain the symptoms, treatment options and possible outcomes of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
• Describe the effect of violence and sexual assault on the individual and possible modes of intervention.
• Explain the relationship between crises and drug dependence.
• Discuss the major issues that arise in family crises and appropriate methods of intervention.
• Discuss cultural influences on crisis situations.

What You Will Do

• Familiarise yourselfwith a Counselling Association Code of Conduct
• Interview a counsellor from a community mental health service in your area
• View videos or films, read or listen to stories (where possible) about personal or family crises
• Discuss post-traumatic stress disorder with a community mental health worker
• Explore physical, emotional, cognitive and social responses to sexual assault or violence
• Examine the relationship between trauma and drugs
• Interview or observe people from other cultures to identify cultural and sub-cultural responses to crises
• Explore how sub-cultural groups may require different counselling approaches
• Consider various methods of crisis intervention.

Crisis Counseling Courses