www.theconnectionsnj.com
Health and Wellness
PAGE 46
Susan J. Friedman
LCSW, BCD, DVS
Relationship Counselor
908-526-6376
Fax: 908-253-3780
Email: sjfhear4u@optonline.net
Web: www.friedmancounseling.com
Children, Adolescents, Adults,
Families, Workshops, Consultation,
Divorce Coaching
Therapy is
conducted in a safe,
caring environment
by a licensed and
compassionate
therapist.
Therapy is an interactive
process in which the
therapist helps you identify
the self-defeating beliefs
and actions that are getting
in the way of your personal
contentment.
•
Set realistic goals based
on your needs and wants.
•
Experiment with your
standards for success.
•
Use feelings of anxiety
and depression as oppor-
tunities to ask yourself,
“
Have I set up impossible
expectations for myself
in this situation?”
•
Confront the fears behind
your perfectionism by
asking yourself, “What
am I afraid of? What is
the worst thing that
could happen?”
•
Recognize that many
positive things can be
learned from making
mistakes.
•
Avoid all- or
-
none thinking.
Change your
beliefs and
you can
change your
world.
NJ License #44SC01374700
COPING WITH DIVORCE
THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS
By: Susan J. Friedman, LCSW, BCD, DVS
908-526-6376
The holiday season is a magi-
cal time and our imagination
and hopes kick into full gear.
It is time for family, food, joy,
warmth and love. Families
are embracing Thanksgiving,
lighting the candles on the
Menorah and or telling the
stories of Kwanza. After all
“
It’s the most wonderful time
of the year!” However, what
do you do with the holidays
when dealing with a failed
relationship or a divorce? Dur-
ing a season when family is
celebrated, a couple going
through a divorce will often
experience even greater than
usual levels of guilt, confusion
and stress.
While we recognize that an
attorney is central to the
legal aspects of a divorce,
the long lasting emotional
impact of a divorce must be
addressed. This is best man-
aged by a Divorce Coach. A
divorce coach is a mental
health professional, who has
additional training and expe-
rience in family related
issues. The divorce coach can
be helpful precisely because
divorce and custody issues
can be so emotional. If it
were not for emotions most
divorces would be just like
any business transaction.
While a divorce coach is
trained in psychotherapy,
coaching is not therapy. The
divorce coach helps a family
navigate the complex emo-
tions of a divorce. The coach
helps people deal with their
soon to be ex-spouse and
suggests and teaches skills
and strategies to assist par-
ents build the best possible
parenting plan for their
unique situation. A coach can
give the children’s special con-
cerns a voice. A coach can
intervene to lessen the impact
of the difficult issues that typ-
ically lead to extreme conflict,
animosity between spouses
and even protracted and
expensive litigation. Establish-
ing clear boundaries, patterns
and goals at the onset of a
divorce ensures a healthier
outcome for all family mem-
bers by reducing the degree
of emotionally driven conflict.
Discussing and anticipating
the typical stress points of the
holidays and preparing in
advance will surely reward
you and your children for the
effort. Please feel free to call
me at 908-526-6376 to dis-
cuss your specific concerns.
You may also reach me at
sjfhear4u@optonline.net.
Under 2,
Free for You!
Free Infant Exam for New Patients
Under 2 Years of Age.
*
Non-insured patients $95 value
or insurance may cover.
Cannot be combined with
any other discounts.
Limit One.
Expires 1/31/14.
NJ’s favorite
kids’ docs
TM
Amy Planz,
D.D.S.
390
Amwell Rd.
Bldg. 2, Suite 201
Hillsborough, NJ 08844
P 908-829-3345
F 908-829-3341
www.hillsboroughpediatricdentistry.com
Diplomate, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry;
Specialty #5778
Dentistry for infants, toddlers,
special needs children and teens
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