Divorce is so common now that the idea of a child not knowing how to handle the news that his or her parents are getting divorced seems odd. However, while divorce is more accepted in society now and children likely have friends whose parents are divorced, it's much different for the child when it happens to his or her own parents—especially if one parent is moving far away. Your child could benefit from therapy at several points during and after the divorce to help them process everything that's happening.
Reactions to the Divorce Itself
First and foremost, the divorce itself and the mere fact that family life is going to change drastically is one reason why you should want your child to have access to counseling or therapy. Depending on what the child has seen and heard of parental interactions, he or she might wonder if the divorce is partly their fault, if one parent is leaving forever, or even if the divorce means they'll have to move or become homeless.
Moving and Blending Families
If the child will have to move as a result of the divorce or because, years after the divorce, one parent is remarrying, that can set off a host of insecurities and rebellions, which aren't always unfounded. Therapy can help the child adjust or figure out that what's happening will actually affect them in several ways; if the situation turns out to be negative, therapy can help the child investigate solutions.
Visitation Issues and Distant Parents
Divorce usually results in a visitation schedule where the child goes to stay with the parent they don't usually live with, and this can be tough as it might take the child away from friends and familiar spaces. Sometimes divorcing parents remain in the same area, so the child is still basically "at home" no matter which parent they're with. Other times, one parent moves far away, and visiting means leaving friends behind over a school break, for example, which can have the child feeling left out and more than a bit isolated, even if there are plenty of kids in the other parent's neighborhood.
Recovering From Abuse
If abuse factored into the divorce at all, then the child really should be in therapy to help them process and heal from the trauma. The specific type of therapy can be very personal, so don't be discouraged if you place your child in therapy and they don't appear to make progress. It really could be that the type of therapy or the therapist themselves are not a good match given the situation.
For more information, contact a children's therapy service such as Grow Collective.