The effects of divorce on children might be likened to lighting striking a structure that is already compromised. The results can range anywhere to setting the entire building ablaze to merely putting a few cracks in the foundation. That more and more families are falling into crisis is evident by the demands placed on "help" lines and services which aid families. A Toronto-based "Kids Help" line reported that it receives over 4000 calls daily from stressed parents filled with "anger, resentment and despair" (Verburg, 1997). The Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons reported a 70% increase in the use of Ritalin, a drug used to treat hyperactivity and inattentiveness in children, between 1991 and 1994 (Verburg, 1997). Mental health services have also experienced a dramatic rise in demand over recent years.
             Dr. Michael Ferri, a psychiatrist practicing in Grande Centre, Alberta, Canada, places much of the blame on the increasing divorce rate. "We need to guard against over-treatment for children victimized by divorce," (Ferri, 1998). "These children are dealing with the separation anxiety, which can lead to them thinking they've created the problem. They don't need psychotherapy; they need parents who understand their pain and have the tools to help them through it. Sending Johnny off to get fixed could even be internalized as punishment" (Verburg, 1997).
             Dr. Ferri sees incompetent parenting as a contributing cause. Parents who are feeling the guilt of divorce try to overcompensate with their children. "In my experience, children with behavior problems, such as hyperactivity and aggression, seem to be treated, and their parents have been told to treat them, with only positive reinforcement and praise" (Ferri, 1996). Ferri emphasizes that children require structure and limitations. He states, "Kids need firm limits on their behavior...with some expectations, it doesn't help to sedate them with drugs or give the...