Sandcastles Divorce Seminar

Sandcastles® is a nationally recognized program to help children cope with their parents’ divorce.  It has been featured on NBC Nightly News, CBS Weekend News, and in a February 27,1995 cover story in TIME Magazine.  The creator of Sandcastles is M. Gary Neuman, LMHC, psychotherapist and certified family mediator with Florida Supreme Court.  Neuman trained facilitators in Menomonie, making this program available to families in Dunn and surrounding counties.  Children participate in small, interactive groups with others their own age.  The groups are arranged according to age: 6-7, 8-10, 11-13, and 14-17 years old.  To make the Sandcastles experience comfortable and enriching, trained facilitators lead role playing, videos, plays, group discussions, and workbook activities.

Divorce is painful and confusing.  How you handle it is as a parent determines a lot about how your child will respond to it, both today and in the future.  While the child is participating in their peer group session, you will have the opportunity to learn about topics that will allow you to help your child through this difficult time and the months to come.  Some of those topics includes:

• How kids at different ages and stages commonly perceive divorce;
• Coping with kids’ common fears about separation;
• Helping your child deal with change;
• How to build a co-parenting relationship, even when you think you can’t; and
• Your key role in helping your child rebuild after the divorce.

Upcoming dates can be found on the Events Calendar.  For more information on either program, please contact Jamie Lawrence-Olson.