Assignment: Helping Teens Cope with Stress from Parental Divorce
Target Population: Adolescents (13-17 years old)
Topic: Stress, Family Changes, Divorce Adjustment
The Metaphor: "The Storm and the Anchor"
Storm: Represents the emotions and challenges teens experience when their parents' divorce occurs. Storms can bring confusion, sadness, anger, worry, and uncertainty.
Anchor: The people, strengths, coping skills, and support systems that keep teens grounded during challenging times.
Activity: Creating My Anchor
Materials:
- Anchor-shaped worksheet
- Markers or colored pencils
Inside the anchor, participants will write:
- People you trust
- Activities that help you cope
- Personal strengths
- Positive memories
- Goals for the future
Activity Steps:
1. Give each participant an anchor worksheet and ask them to decorate it.
2. Ask participants to think about the "storm" they experience when dealing with their parents' divorce.
3. Invite them to fill in their anchor with things that help them stay strong and supported.
4. Have participants share as much or as little as they feel comfortable.
5. Process the activity using discussion questions.
Processing Questions:
- When thinking about the changes in your family, what emotions arise? Need Assignment Help?
- What did you write on your anchor?
- Which support on your anchor is most beneficial?
- How can you use your anchor when things become stressful?
- What did you learn about yourself today?
Group Presentation Scripts:
Leader (Betul)
Introduction
"Today, we're talking about stress that can happen when parents' divorce. Divorce can feel like a storm. Some days the storm may feel small, and other days it may feel overwhelming. Even during a storm, an anchor can help keep a ship steady. Today we're going to identify the anchors in our lives that help us stay grounded."
Activity
"Take a few minutes to decorate your anchor. Inside the anchor, write down people, strengths, activities, memories, or goals that help you feel supported and strong."
Processing
"What emotions come up when you think about changes in your family?"
"What did you include on your anchor?"
"How might these anchors help you during stressful times?"
Participant 1 (Engaged)
Activity
"On my anchor, I wrote my grandmother, my best friend, basketball, and my determination."
Processing
"When my parents divorced, I felt confused and sad. Sometimes I still do. Writing these things reminded me that I have people who care about me."
Closing
"One thing that helps keep me grounded during difficult family changes is my grandmother."
Participant 2 (Emotional but Open)
Activity
"I wrote my older sister, drawing, my faith, and staying focused on school."
Processing
"I'm really worried about my family. Sometimes, I feel like I'm in the middle of it, and reading some of what I put on my anchor got me to know that I wasn't alone. I was reading about my family."
Closing
"I have a sister to keep me grounded through the difficult family times."
Participant 3 (Resistant / Disengaged)
Activity
"This seems kind of childish."
Processing
"I still don't like talking about my parents' divorce. But I guess soccer helps me stop thinking about it for a while."
Multicultural Consideration
Divorce is a different experience for families in various cultures, religions, and communities. Adolescents may be subjected to extra stress from cultural norms for family structure, communication, and expression of emotions. In this activity, participants will be able to recognize some of the coping mechanisms and supports that are meaningful in their own culture.
Developmental Rationale
Adolescence is a time of identity exploration, emotional growth, integration, and independence. Parental divorce can be stressful, uncertain, and sad during this crucial period. The "Storm and Anchor" activity gives adolescents an idea of coping skills, personal strengths, and supportive relationships that can foster resilience and healthy adjustment to family changes.