11 Jun How to Cope with Not Seeing My Child on Father’s Day
With it being men’s mental health awareness week, and Father’s Day in the U.K this week I wanted to address How to Cope with Not Seeing My Child on Father’s Day and the overwhelming grief associated with being unable to see children on this triggering and emotive day.
Father’s Day can be deeply painful for loving fathers who are unable to see their children due to difficult ex-partners, legal battles, or estrangement. The grief and heartache is complex, often combining loss, frustration, helplessness, and shame — especially for high-achieving professionals who are used to being in control in other areas of life.
Why This Happens
Sadly, high-conflict separations, parental alienation, and unresolved emotional wounds can result in one parent withholding access. Sometimes ex-partners project their own unresolved trauma, using children as leverage using abuse, control and manipulation. In other cases, legal systems may move slowly, leaving fathers powerless on significant days like Father’s Day.
The Grief You May Experience
- Loss of precious time and memories
- Guilt or self-blame
- Anger towards your ex or the system
- Fear of disconnection from your child
- Deep sadness and isolation
This grief is real, and ongoing — often referred to as “ambiguous loss,” as your child is alive, but emotionally or physically out of reach.
How My Work Can Help when you’re seeking ‘How to Cope with Not Seeing My Child on Father’s Day’
My job is not to take away pain but to help my clients manage it in a supportive, safe and nurturing space. As a trauma-informed hypnotherapist and EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) practitioner, I help clients:
- Process unresolved emotions
- Rebuild inner safety and resilience
- Heal inner child wounds
- Release anger and grief gently
- Reframe painful thought patterns
5 Practical Tips to Navigate the pain of fathers day.
- Self validate. Acknowledge your feelings – suppressing them only prolongs the pain.
- Write a letter, or engage in your creative side in some way through art to give to your child at some point in the future.
- Engage in grounding activities like nature walks, meditation or breathwork.
- Seek professional support – hypnotherapy and EFT can bring powerful relief for grief and anger.
- Connect with trusted friends or support groups to share your feelings openly.
If you’re struggling this Father’s Day, you don’t have to face it alone. Contact me here to explore how I can support your healing journey.
https://calendly.com30-minute-clarity-call
https://rebeccadakin.com/contact-me/
More on Men’s mental health https://breaking-the-silence-