12-Week Divorce Support Group

Group Type: Open (participants may join at any time)

Frequency: Weekly, 90-minute sessions

Format: In-person or virtual

Facilitator Role: Guide discussions, promote safety and respect, offer psychoeducation and tools, and manage group process

Group Objectives:

Participants will:

• Process and normalize the grief and transition of divorce

• Explore emotions such as anger, guilt, sadness, and relief

• Rebuild self-identity, confidence, and boundaries

• Develop practical coping skills and communication strategies

• Connect with others for shared understanding and support
   

Weekly Structure (Consistent Format)

TimeActivity
0:00–0:10Welcome, check-in question, group norms reminder
0:10–0:20Brief grounding or mindfulness practice
0:20–1:10Weekly topic, guided discussion, journaling/sharing
1:10–1:20Closing check-out, affirmations, weekly takeaway

12-Week Outline: Weekly Themes:

Week 1 – Orientation & Story Sharing

• Group norms, confidentiality, and structure

• Introductions (first names only if preferred)

• Sharing your story: “Where I am in my journey”

• Grounding and safety practices
  
   

Week 2 – Understanding the Grief Process

• Divorce as a form of grief and ambiguous loss

• Exploring denial, anger, bargaining, sadness, and acceptance

• Journaling: “What have I lost? What am I learning?”
  
   

Week 3 – Managing Overwhelm & Emotional Triggers

• Recognizing emotional flooding

• Coping tools for anxiety, sadness, and panic

• Practice: 5-4-3-2-1 grounding and self-soothing techniques
  
   

Week 4 – Boundaries & Rebuilding Your Identity

• Setting healthy emotional and physical boundaries

• Who am I outside of this relationship?

• Activity: Identity map or “My new story begins with…”
  
   

Week 5 – Coping with Guilt, Shame & Regret

• Identifying internalized self-blame

• Self-compassion vs. rumination

• Journaling prompt: “If I spoke to myself like a friend…”
  
   

Week 6 – Anger, Resentment & Letting Go

• Normalizing anger in divorce

• Safe expression vs. suppression

• Visualization: Releasing control and reclaiming peace
  
   

Week 7 – Co-Parenting & Communication

• Navigating co-parenting or solo parenting roles

• Tools for respectful communication and boundaries

• Discussing parenting plans, parallel parenting
  
   

Week 8 – Financial Anxiety & Independence

• Financial fears and empowerment

• Emotional relationship to money

• Sharing resources and mindset shift exercises
  
   

Week 9 – Dating Again: Readiness & Boundaries

• “Am I ready to date again?”

• Redefining love, trust, and expectations

• Reflective worksheet: My values in future relationships
  
   

Week 10 – Navigating Loneliness & Rebuilding Community

• Understanding loneliness vs. aloneness

• How to build new friendships and social support

• Social reconnection goals: “Who can I reach out to this week?”
  
   

Week 11 – Celebrating Progress & Resilience

• What has changed in 11 weeks?

• Recognizing growth, resilience, and internal strength

• Group circle: Reflections and affirmations
  
   

Week 12 – Closure, Next Steps & Goodbye (or See You Later)

• Group closing ritual (e.g., candle lighting, gratitude circle)

• Resources for continued support

• Sharing words of encouragement

• Optional journaling: “What I want to remember from this group…”
   

Key Features of an Open Group

• Each week is a stand-alone topic

• New members welcomed with a brief orientation

• Returning members can revisit topics with fresh insight

• Safety, confidentiality, and mutual respect are emphasized every session