Therapy for Kids Going Through Divorce, in Austin and Across Texas

Little Dove Psychology provides therapy for children, teens, and college students whose parents are separating or divorcing, by secure video for families in Austin and anywhere in Texas and the other PSYPACT participating states. The work centers on the child: a steady adult to talk to, skills for the feelings that come with two homes, and co-parent sessions each parent can join from their own household. Our clinicians are in network with Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, and Optum/UnitedHealthcare (including Oscar plans administered by Optum), and most families start within the same week.

What do kids need most when their parents divorce?

Parents usually come to me braced for damage. The research is kinder than that. Divorce itself is not what decides how children turn out. Three things matter more: how much conflict the kids see, the parenting they get from each parent, and how steady their daily life stays. Parents have real influence over all three, and most children of divorce are doing well within a few years.

I made this the center of a talk for the attorneys at Hembree Bell Law Firm here in Austin, and the short version is three sentences every child needs to hear: This is not your fault. We both love you, and that will never change. Here is what will change, and what will stay the same. Adjustment is a season, usually a year or two, not a single conversation. The full write-up is on the blog: Helping Kids Through Divorce: A Talk with Hembree Bell.

What does therapy for a child of divorce actually involve?

The child's sessions belong to the child. For many kids it is the one hour a week where they do not have to protect either parent's feelings. We work on naming feelings (including relief, and the guilt that often follows it), coping skills for transition days, and how to tell each parent what they need. Younger children often do this through drawing and play. Teens tend to want it practical: which house has the charger, what to say when a parent asks about the other house.

A big part of the work is keeping kids out of the middle. Children should not carry messages, report on the other household, or hear the adult details of the divorce. When those loyalty binds are already in place, therapy is where we loosen them.

Can both parents be involved if they live in separate homes?

Yes, and this is one place virtual care has a real advantage. Each parent can join from their own home. Sessions can be with one parent, both on screen, or alternating. When co-parents are not speaking, we build a system that does not require warm conversation: written communication, parallel parenting structures, and a shared plan for what is age-appropriate to tell the kids. If there is any concern about safety in your home, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 before scheduling therapy.

What signs mean a child needs more than time?

Some tears, clinginess, anger on transition days, and a few weeks of backsliding are normal responses to a big change. Signs that a child needs more support include:

• Sadness, anger, or worry that grows over a couple of months instead of easing
• Trouble sleeping, stomachaches, or headaches that keep coming back
• Dropping grades, or resisting school (see our page on school refusal)
• Pulling away from friends or activities they used to love
• Refusing to go to one parent's home, or intense distress at every handoff
• A child who has become a parent's confidant or caretaker

If your child talks about hopelessness or hurting themselves, call or text 988 or call 911 right away.

How does therapy help blended families and new partners?

New partners, stepparents, and stepsiblings bring their own adjustment, sometimes years after the divorce itself. We help families pace introductions, sort out who handles discipline, and make room for a child's mixed feelings about the new household.

Does the therapist take sides or do custody evaluations?

No. Our role is clinical, not forensic; we do not do custody evaluations. We do not make recommendations about custody or parenting time, and the child's clinician is there for the child, not for either side of a legal case. Depending on what your custody order says, consent from both legal parents may be needed before we can see your child, so we ask about it on the free consultation.

Who provides divorce support for kids at Little Dove?

Child and family work is spread across our clinical team (see our team page), and Dr. Kroll matches your family with a clinician on the free consultation. Our page on family therapy for co-parents covers the parent side in more detail.

How it works at Little Dove

1. A free 15-minute consultation with Dr. Kroll. Dr. Kristin Kroll, PhD, the founder, speaks with every family herself. She will ask how the kids are doing and what your custody order says about decisions like therapy. Then she matches you with the clinician who fits.
2. A benefits check. Read us the plan name on your card and we verify your benefits and give you the expected cost before anything is scheduled. Our clinicians are in network with Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, and Optum/UnitedHealthcare (including Oscar plans administered by Optum), and we match you with a clinician your plan covers. We do not accept Medicaid or CHIP. Self-pay is $225 a session with a licensed psychologist or $150 with a licensed psychological associate, with superbills and HSA/FSA accepted. See Fees & Insurance.
3. A start within days. Five days on average from first contact to first appointment; most families start the same week.
4. 60-minute virtual sessions. Secure video with evening and weekend times, for families located anywhere in Texas or the other PSYPACT participating states during the session.
5. Measures every four weeks. Brief validated questionnaires at intake and every four weeks after, reviewed with you. How we measure progress.

Frequently asked questions about therapy for kids of divorce

Should my child see a therapist during our divorce?

Most children adjust well within a few years. Therapy helps when a child's sadness, anger, or worry is growing rather than easing, when school, sleep, or friendships are suffering, or when a child is caught in the middle of conflict between parents.

Do both parents have to consent to therapy for our child in Texas?

It depends on your custody order. Depending on what the order says about medical and psychological decisions, consent from both legal parents may be needed before we can see your child. We ask about it on the free consultation.

Will the therapist testify or do a custody evaluation?

No. Our role is clinical, not forensic; we do not do custody evaluations. The child's clinician is there to support the child.

Can my ex and I do sessions together if we do not get along?

Yes. Because sessions are virtual, each parent can join from their own home, and sessions can be joint, separate, or alternating.

What ages do you work with?

We work with children from elementary school through college, and with their parents.

How long does therapy take after a divorce?

Sessions are 60 minutes. Many families work with us for about three to six months on a specific transition like divorce, and progress is measured every four weeks so you can see whether it is helping.

Is therapy for a child of divorce covered by insurance?

Our clinicians are in network with Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, and Optum/UnitedHealthcare (including Oscar plans administered by Optum), and we verify your benefits before anything is scheduled. We do not accept Medicaid or CHIP. Self-pay families can use a superbill for out-of-network reimbursement.

What should we tell our kids about the divorce?

Keep it simple, blame-free, and together if you can. Children need to hear three things: this is not your fault; we both love you, and that will never change; and here is what will change and what will stay the same.

Dr. Kristin Kroll, PhD is a licensed psychologist and the founder of Little Dove Psychology, a virtual group practice based in Austin, Texas (Little Dove Consulting PLLC). Her clinical background includes pediatric hospital settings at Children's Wisconsin and an academic appointment at the Medical College of Wisconsin, and she is the author of Pediatric Psychology in Clinical Practice (Cambridge University Press, 2020). Patterns described on this page are general clinical patterns, not specific cases. This page is general information, not advice about your child. In a crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or call 911.