Cohort group Proposal

roup Objectives:

I am presuming that the primary focus of this group is to assist the participants to develop social support from new sources. Part of that may occur within the group itself. However, we could multiply the success of the group if we were include a portion on support network forming skills outside the group itself. Remember that this group will only last for a few weeks.

Here are some of my suggestions for group objectives:

1. Members will identify areas of their life that require support relationships.

2. Members will compile a list and contact information for support relationships.

1. Member will add at least five more names to this list by the end of the course.

3. Members will define their altered relationship with their ex-spouses.

With that said, I also like Nesha’s suggestions in this area.

Suggestions for Inclusion in the Curriculum:

Van Gasse and Mortelmans (2020) discuss a group that focuses on creating a greater level of social independence from the ex-spouse. This includes forming new support relationships for areas as diverse as personal emotional support, financial independence and altered parental responsibilities.  While we all hope that our participants will use the group setting to form new, healthy friendships, perhaps at least one session should be given over to discussing seeing helpful relationships after the group ends. We could discuss what the attendees’ future support needs may be and places where they could seek them. This would help fill the support void left by the departure of the spouse.

There is another area that I would like us to consider for inclusion in the curriculum. Ideally, all divorcing couples would keep a cordial, helping relationship between themselves in future years. This is even more optimal when children are involved. However, the reality is that this is probably practical or even desirable. In my observations, the divorce process often occurs because of pre-existing mental health conditions in one or both spouses. The stress of divorce may also exacerbate those conditions. If one is divorcing someone who is less than mentally or emotionally healthy, the question arises as to the appropriate distance to maintain. I think that the article that Nesha cited in her submission today offers a lot of good material for consideration (Emerson, Harris & Ahmed, 2021).

For example, if one is divorcing a person with narcissistic personality disorder, the best course of action is often to keep as much separation as circumstances allow.

I’m wondering if the curriculum should include a session discussing some of the more common mental health conditions that may cause or be caused by the stress of divorce, and some ways to deal with them. We would have to approach this carefully. In my experience divorced spouses are often quick to label their exes as “psycho”—despite lacking any qualifications or situational separation to make a competent diagnosis. Perhaps the best result we could hope for in this area is to alert the participant to the warning signs and suggest that they pursue the issue with provider one-on-one if they see grounds for concern.

In any event, I’m thinking that the primary emphasis of the group should be on building new relationships—either within or without the group.

Cultural Diversity and Recruitment:

Also, in case you haven’t noticed, we are a racially mixed cohort. As a boring, old, white cisgendered heterosexual guy (I’ve learned some of these terms during this program!), I love the prospect of working with people whose backgrounds may vary from mine. I think we’d be losing a great opportunity if we did not carry this same energy into recruiting for our groups.

Let me give you an example of how this may help our participants. This comes from my own experience. I live in an area that has a predominant religion. The members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (“Mormons”) do not actually condemn divorce, but it’s not looked upon super-favorably either. In addition, most of their culture and activities seems more targeted towards supporting traditional, nuclear families. When I divorced; I no longer met the mainstream demographic. I had to really exert myself to learn new ways of networking. Part of the way I did this was by seeking out relationships that were slightly out of my earlier comfort zone. It was super-helpful once I started learning how.

I’m really hoping that we can recruit members who are racially and age diverse. If anyone has any suggestions on how to do this effectively, I’m all ears.

 

Practical Considerations:

I was envisioning perhaps a ten-week, weekly curriculum with sessions that run about 90 minutes each. I sort of like the idea of a longer session because it can accommodate a fifteen minute or so presentation on some topic that may spark discussion. These could include various mental health issues of particular interest, as well as discussions on other topics—such as legal concerns, financial concerns and such. Hopefully, the presentation will help spur on discussion in the group. Bridgett discussed the possibility of a presentation on legal issues. If that is the case, I know one nearly senile old lawyer who would be glad to do this free of charge. However, if any of you think that I would be crossing some sort of line by doing this myself, please let’s discuss it. The location suggested by Nesha seems as good as any. I just hope that it’s a location that people of differing SESs and cultures would feel comfortable congregating.

Just to piggyback on Dr. Bryant’s comments on our last submission, it seems to me that this should properly be deemed a counseling group. I envision that our participants will basically well-function apart from the burden that they’re currently carrying because of divorce. I also like the measures of group success suggested in our last submission, but incorporating the modifications suggested by Dr. Bryant. Two or three of the questions to ask at entry and exit may need to be devised out of “whole cloth.” I hope that we can discuss this in our Thursday meeting..

REFERENCES:

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

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

Hello, 

I found a new article for a possible additional resource, Rae, J., Jasper-Jacobsen, J., & Blatter, C. J. (1991). Support Groups for Persons Experiencing Divorce in later Life.  Behavioral Sciences & the Law,  9(4), 477–486.  https://doi.org/10.1002/bsl.2370090410 Links to an external site.  

The article mentioned how mid life divorce is common and because marriages fail during this time people are ashamed to seek help due to the negative stigma on divorce. The article discussed ways men and women learn to cope with the emotional challenges faced after the end of a long term marriage. This article could be used as an additional resource because like Hunt stated we should focus on a population in mid life, 30-50 years of age. This article has a lot of information we would be able to share with our members if they need help coping or healing. Our group can consist of 8-10 members lasting 90 minutes like Hunt stated as well. Like Hunt mentioned, we all come from different walks of life so a diverse group would be ideal to have. It will give balance and members can learn from each other as every culture has different beliefs. 

Objectives 

1. Members will be able to define what acceptance of their divorce means for them.

2. Members will be able to gain a new sense of identify after divorce. 

3. Members will be able to identify less feelings of guilt or anger towards divorce or their ex spouse. 

Hello team,

I had the opportunity to read this article, which was interesting and helpful for the group assignment. “Stresses and Strengths of Working Women in a Divorce Support Group” (Molina, 2000). A descriptive study was conducted of eight working women who were part of a union-based legal/social work program amid a divorce. This sample of eight women took part in an eight-week divorce support group. Questionnaires and scales were used to uncover the family characteristics of the predominantly African American clients. The lack of opportunities to learn job skills for promotions, the inability to continue the desired level of education because of a need to earn money, and having no partner to share responsibilities were primary stresses reported by divorced working women. Seeking spiritual support and an ability to redefine crises to make them more manageable were strengths. The other four studies measured the participants’ divorce adjustment using different instruments; however, there are very few long-term empirical studies; the remaining studies evaluate short-term group treatment. Two studies focused on a divorce education approach (Young, 1978a, 1978bs. The results indicate a significant improvement in self-esteem in the experimental groups. In addition, Fisher (1976) and Thiessen et al. (1980) report significantly increased divorce adjustment in participants measured by the Fisher Divorce Adjustment Scale (Fisher, 1976). The women attended group sessions, allowing different things to occur in each group. Session one-Developed group Cohesiveness and discussed goals for each Session. Session Two focused on the ambivalence towards divorce and the effects and ways of coping with new roles as a divorced woman. The third Session concentrates on children and themselves and their responses to the position of separation and divorce. Fourth Session-A guest attorney was invited to discuss legal matters, grounds for divorce, custody anything on divorce. Fifth Session helped with depression and anger and the importance of expressing emotions—sixth Session Focused on the sense of low self-esteem and how to focus more on self-needs. Seventh Session focused on sexuality and dating and some conflicting feelings some may have about sex. The eighth Session concentrates on helping the woman focus on goals and personal growth and dealing with a sense of termination.

Counseling a group as such, one of the goals for our group would be to help the divorced woman meet their goals and encourage them to discuss plans and how they see themselves as a single person.

 

References

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