'It's been a traumatic situation': Angelina Jolie and children 'have started therapy' as family deals with the pain of divorce 

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Angelina Jolie's shock split from Brad Pitt two weeks ago has left the whole family reeling.

Now comes word that the 41-year-old actress and the couple's six kids are beginning therapy as a means to cope with the devastating divorce, People is reporting.

A source told the publication that Angelina is 'staying strong' for the children's sake but that 'it's been a traumatic situation.'

Dealing with the trauma: Angelina Jolie (pictured January 16) and her kids are beginning therapy as a means to cope with the actress' divorce from Brad Pitt, according to People

Angelina moved the couple's brood to a Malibu rental home where the kids spent time indoors watching movies or playing outside by the pool.

'She did what she felt she had to do to protect the safety of the kids,' the source added.

As the negotiations grew more and more intense, Angelina tried to keep things as normal as possible for Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and eight-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox.

Just Angelina, her brother James Haven or a selective group of friends had access.

Trying to cope: The 41-year-old actress' shock split from Brad two weeks ago has left the whole family reeling (pictured March 7)

'She did what she felt she had to do to protect the safety of the kids': Angelina moved the brood to a Malibu rental home

'They didn’t leave the rental house for days,' a family source told People. 'It was hard for all of them. They are used to more activities and more entertainment so it’s difficult for them to just stay at the house.'

The source added: 'The younger kids don’t understand what’s going on.'

According to Entertainment Tonight, Angelina then moved her brood into another home in the secluded gated community of Hidden Hills, California. 

Brad isn't faring too well either. A source tells People that the Allied star 'has been absolutely devastated and heartbroken by the events of the past several weeks, both in terms of how those events have been wrongfully portrayed and how they have threatened to jeopardize his family’s ability to heal and move forward.'

It's believed that the actor continues to remain at his Los Feliz estate. 

'They didn't leave the rental house for days': Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and eight-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox watched movies or hung out at the pool

Select visitors: Angelina has allowed just a few select visitors to her and the children including her brother James Haven (pictured June 17)

New abode: The Maleficent star has reportedly moved her and the kids to this sprawling home in the gated community of Hidden Hills, CA

The intense divorce negotiations and custody battle were spurred by a September 14 incident between Brad and his eldest son Maddox aboard a private jet, which is being investigated by Los Angeles' Department of Children and Family Services.

On September 30, Angelina and Brad agreed to a temporary plan as recommended by the DCFS, according to People.

The children will remain with Angelina until October 20, while Brad is being allowed visitation in the presence of a therapist for the first meeting.

She was furious: Angelina was furious with Brad and a friend telling Us Weekly, 'Her legal team worked with her temper so they could reach an agreement for the sake of the kids'

Soon after filing for divorce, Angelina was furious with Brad but she eventually cooled off.

'Her legal team worked with her temper so they could reach an agreement for the sake of the kids,' the friend told Us Weekly.

Attorneys representing both Angelina and Brad worked out the finer details.

The actor 'was dealing with this all day, always on the phone with his lawyers,' a source told Us Weekly. 

Visits with the kids: Brad (pictured August 2014) is being allowed visitation with his children -  and for the first meeting in the presence of a therapist

Cooperating: Brad 'will cooperate in any way he can to see the kids. By agreeing to this, he can see them, which is what he wanted,' a friend told Us Weekly; the family was pictured 2011

Brad 'will cooperate in any way he can to see the kids. By agreeing to this, he can see them, which is what he wanted,' a friend told Us Weekly.

The family will continue to undergo therapy, and the actress and the actor will also see a counselor on a one-on-one basis.

Brad has volunteered to undergo random testing for drugs and alcohol, and he will continue to do so. (According to Us Weekly, his first test results were negative.)

Pitt 'loves his children more than anything in this world, and they matter more than anything else to him,' a source close to the actor told People.

'He will do whatever it takes to be with them, now and always.'

In therapy: The family will continue to undergo therapy, and Brad and Angelina (pictured 2012) will also see a counselor on a one-on-one basis, People reported