Cohort group Proposal

Group Proposal

Recovery Group for Divorced Women

We propose a counseling group for women who have recently experienced divorce.

Rationale for Proposal

Research suggests that divorce is a substantial risk factor for numerous social or mental health maladies. These include damage to self-esteem, avoidance behaviors, social isolation, or even major depression—to name only a few Research has also show that a divorce recovery group can serve as a protective factor for many of these difficulties (Taylor, 2004).

Literature Review

The damage caused by divorce could well be considered an ongoing mental health crisis. While the percentage of marriages that end in divorce is difficult to determine, the Centers for Disease Control (n.d.) found that the current divorce rate in the U.S. averages about 2.5 per 1,000 population. This contrasts with 6.0 marriages per year for the same population. A wealth of research has demonstrated the effective of gathering in a controlled setting, divorcees can find commonality. Indeed, catharsis, cohesiveness and a sense of community realized through the group setting can serve a vital therapeutic goal. It can increase social functioning and overall mental health through education on topics common to many divorcees and—most importantly—encouraging the development of new healthy social contacts.

The Importance of New Relationships:

A wealth of research has demonstrated the effective of gathering in a controlled setting, divorcees where can find commonality. Indeed, catharsis, cohesiveness and a sense of community realized through the group setting can serve a vital therapeutic goal. It can increase social functioning and overall mental health through education on topics common to many divorcees and—most importantly—encouraging the development of new healthy social contacts.

This is because divorcing individuals usually experience a significant disruption in their existing social networks. The people upon who they have relied—emotionally or otherwise-- are often no longer available. This may be because these friends retain a stronger loyalty to the other spouse or are otherwise are alienated because of the trauma the divorcee is experiencing. (Van Gasse & Mortelmans, 2020). Support groups can serve the vital need of helping participants form new, healthy relationships. Initially it does this by facilitating such relationship-building between members of the group. Just as importantly, it fosters relationship-building skills that will continue throughout life.

Research has also show that a contacts formed in recovery groups can serve as a vital protective factor for many of these difficulties—including emergent mental health issues beyond the stress and disorientation typical of divorce (Taylor, 2004). By gathering in a controlled setting, divorcees can find commonality. They can network and discuss their feelings of alienation and damaged self-esteem. This can help to reduce their feelings of isolation and rejection. Indeed, catharsis and cohesiveness realized through the group setting can serve a vital therapeutic goal (Oygard & Thuen, 2000).

Parenting After Divorce:

Parenting children is a daunting task even under optimal conditions. Sometimes, more reasonable goal to maintain regular well-intentioned communication between the ex-spouses on how to continue parenting. Emerson, et.al (2021) have discussed different methods to employ both in individual and group counseling to empower the client to make decisions that are in the best interests of the children.

Naturally, numerous questions arise when discussing co-parenting. These can be complicated. For example, is co-parenting still the best course when the divorce was initiated because of domestic abuse or mental health issues by the ex-spouse? The Emerson study does not suggest a one-size-fits all approach. Instead, it discusses a series of semi-structured discussions that can assist participants in sorting through and analyzing the possible alternatives.

Choice of Population:

We have decided to limit the initial group to women who have recently experienced divorce. The choice of women is somewhat serendipitous. It could just as easily be a group of men. There is, however, some evidence that women feel more comfortable and less-constrained in a same-gender support group (Molina, 2000). While men may have similar views, there is little research yet to support this conclusion.

Mental Health Issues Arising from Divorce:

As stated in the introduction, the stress and disorientation of divorce may spark or exacerbate myriad mental health issues (Taylor). Granted, this is a counseling group; membership is intended for persons who are relatively well-functioning—apart from the stress and disruption of divorce. This group does not replace individual counseling when such is indicated. The participants will be remined of this fact several times during the curriculum. However, an overview of mental health conditions occasionally arising from divorce will assist the participants in determining when to seek additional help.

Group Goals and Objectives

Group Goal:

Group members will form new, supportive relationships, and acquire skills to continue to do so.

Objective 1.

Participants will establish supportive relationships with at least five new individuals—either inside or outside the group.

Objective 2.

Participants with minor children will a write a brief description of their hopes for their children.

Strategies to achieve goal and objectives.

Schedule Overview:

The group will hold weekly meetings one evening per week for 12 weeks. Each session will last 90 minutes. Most sessions will follow this schedule:

7:00 -7:10: Unstructured visitation among members.

7:10 – 7:25: Icebreaker activity.

7:25 – 7:45: Mini Lecture.

7:45 – 8:00: Question and Answer session with presenter

8:00 – 8:10: Break

8:10 – 8:25: Group discussion about lecture topic.

8:25 - 8:45: Open discussion (loosely moderated by group leaders).

8:45 – 8:50: “Homework” discussion

8:50 – 9:00: Meditation/Breathing exercise.Members who would like to stay and informally chat with team leaders and fellow team members following the end of the session are encouraged to do so. Team leaders will remain at the location until at least 9:30 for this purpose.

Lecture Topics:

Each weekly session will include a 20-minute “mini lecture” from a person with expertise in that area. The speaker will be encouraged to remain at the session at the conclusion of the lecture for about fifteen minutes or so to answer questions.

The team leaders should not participate in the session as lecturers—even if it concerns an area of their own expertise. This is because we hope that the members will come to see the team leaders as helpful facilitators rather than experts.

The lecture topics will cover the following areas.

· Emotional trauma: what causes it and how do we address it?

· Relaxation and mindfulness techniques.

· The importance of healthy relationships.

· Developing a new set of supporting relationships.

· Self-care.

· Specific mental health conditions: personality disorders.

· Specific mental health conditions commonly experienced by divorcing parties.

· Legal issues of interest to divorcing parties.

· Financial issues of interest to divorcing parties.

· Parenting as a now-single parent (including when it is best to seek to co-parent and when it is not).

Homework:

During many sessions, members will be assigned tasks to complete that relate to the session’s topic. The homework assignments will require reflection, but the writing portion should not require more than a few minutes to complete. There will be no penalty for not completing an assignment.

Evaluation of Goals and Objectives.

In practice, many divorce recovery groups do not measure their success though objective, empirical evidence. For example, in the Oygard (2004) study, researchers acknowledged the inherent difficult of doing this in these types of groups. These groups are generally comprised of relatively well-functioning individuals who may not even suffer from conditions acute enough to merit a DSM-5 diagnosis. Like most such groups, this group would be essentially psychoeducational in nature. It would focus in helping individuals increase their coping and management skills. In many such groups, success is often measured anecdotally by interviewing participants prior to beginning the course and upon completion—and comparing the results.

Some studies have attempted a more empirical approach—with some limited results. For example, Lee and Hett (2011) discussed a group intervention for post-divorce adjustment that administered the Personal Orientation Inventory, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory both prior to and following the course. Although the increase in these scores was statistically significant, the reviewers acknowledged the inherent shortcomings in these samples in that not all participants dealt with all these issues. Nonetheless, it provided at least a partial benchmark to gauge effectiveness see also (Oygard, et.al. 2001).

We will assess group efficacy in manner somewhat akin to Lee and Hett study. The tests will consist of:

1. Personal Orientation Inventory

2. State-Trait Anxiety Inventory

3. Beck Depression Inventory

4. A test using group-specific questions to the group analyzed by a seven-point Likert scale. The possible responses range from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). The questions will be:

a. I feel secure in relation to other people.

b. I can handle my personal problems.

c. I am confident in my ability to form new, healthy relationships.

d. I think I am fundamentally a good person.

e. I believe that a happy future awaits me.

Practical Considerations

Screening for membership.

All four organizers maintain mental health practices in the local area. Several of us feel that we have current clients who could benefit from this group. After brief consultation with each other—primarily to ensure we do not exceed our group size—the organizer will meet with the client individually, discuss the group learn whether the client would like to participate.

If this process does not complete the membership, the organizers will distribute flyers at several of the community centers in the area. Any interested woman who expresses interest will meet with one of the counselors for screening. If deemed a candidate for participation, the counselor will explain the group, its schedule to obtain a commitment to attend and also to complete privacy statement.

Optimal membership is 12 members, with a hard cap of 15.

Informed Consent:

All group members will be required to review and complete a release and confidentiality agreement prior to participation. The agreement will include an explanation of the purpose of the group, a commitment to keep contents of the discussions confidential. The form will be reviewed by legal counsel prior to use.

Diversity

The community in Tulsa, Oklahoma is quite racially diverse: being 63.31% white, 15.03% black, and the remainder of another race or mixed race. The organizers racial diversity in the group will add a variety of perspectives that otherwise would be missing in discussions. We all plan to bear this in mind when nominating participants.

Termination and Resources

The final session will not include a mini lecture. Instead, it will be devoted to termination activities. All time normally devoted to lecture will consist of semi-structured discussion of the lessons learned in the course.

Participants then received a stack of index cards—one for each fellow group member. They will then list a few items they feel they learned from that member. They also may include compliments to that person if so moved. They will be instructed to keep the comments positive and uplifting.

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). p 829 https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books. 9780890425596

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.) National Center for Health Statistics; Marriage and Divorce. Retrieved March 16, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/marriage-divorce.htm

Emerson, A. J., Harris, S. M., & Ahmed, F. A. (2021). The impact of discernment counseling on individuals who decide to divorce: experiences of post‐divorce communication and coparenting. Journal of Marital & Family Therapy, 47(1), 36–51. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12463

Lee, J. M., & Hett, G. G. (2011). Post-divorce Adjustment: An Assessment of a Group Intervention. Canadian Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy, 24(3). Retrieved from https://cjc-rcc.ucalgary.ca/article/view/59513

Molina, O. (2000). Stresses and Strengths of Working Women in a Divorce Support Group. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 33(3/4), 145. https://doi.org/10.1300/J087v33n03_09

Oygard, L. (2001). Therapeutic Factors in Divorce Support Groups. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 36(1/2), 141. https://doi.org/10.1300/J087v36n01_08

Øygard, L., Thuen, F., & Silvang, P. (2000). An evaluation of divorce support groups: a qualitative approach. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 32(3/4), 149–164. https://doi.org/10.1300/J087v32n03_10

Taylor, R. J. (2004). Therapeutic Intervention of Trauma and Stress Brought on by Divorce. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 41(1/2), 129–135. https://doi.org/10.1300/J087v41n01_08

Van Gasse, D., & Mortelmans, D. (2020). Social support in the process of household reorganization after divorce. Journal of Social & Personal Relationships, 37(6), 1927–1944. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407520910268