Dealing with Divorce

Divorce changes a family in many ways. It can be a confusing and painful process for parents and even more so for children. More than half of Oklahoma’s children will experience the divorce of their parents. When parents divorce, children often get caught-up in a quagmire of emotions. Shock, disbelief, fear, sadness, isolation and anger are all common feelings, but children may not understand or know how to handle them.

Support Groups Can Help

Support groups bring help and healing to children who are living in difficult, painful times. At Calm Waters, children find a safe and supportive place to share their feelings and experiences in a group of peers who have all experienced similar loss. Through a variety of art and play activities, as well as discussions, healing can begin. Parents find help and support also, as they meet with other adults, share their concerns and learn how to help themselves and their children through turbulent times.

Research indicates children adjust better if the level of conflict between parents is kept to a minimum. At Calm Waters, parents learn healthy parenting, communication and coping skills. They also learn to better understand what their children are experiencing and how to effectively address their needs.

Calm Waters offers free divorce support groups for children (3 – 18 years of age) and their families. Because coping abilities vary with age, children meet in groups with other peers in the same age range. Guided by trained volunteer facilitators, these children support one another, share experiences and feelings, and begin to heal. While the children meet, parents/caregivers attend adult groups.

Divorce Support Group Schedule

Calm Waters’ Divorce Support Groups are scheduled from 6:30 – 7:30 pm. Families attend one night per week for eight weeks.

Calm Waters is currently taking registrations for the sessions that begin in March.

8 weeks of Tuesdays:
March 27, 2012 - May 15, 2012

8 weeks of Thursdays:
March 29, 2012 – May 17, 2012

** Parents are asked to feed children prior to group

In order to attend divorce support groups, your divorce must be filed and children need to be aware that their parents are divorcing .

At least one adult must attend Calm Waters’ divorce support group, while children attend their developmentally-appropriate group. Two adult groups meet simultaneously, so two adults from each family can be accommodated.

Once your registration form has been received, a Calm Waters’ staff member will contact you to schedule an intake appointment prior to the beginning of groups. The intake appointment determines group readiness and is required for all who want to attend Calm Waters groups.

Download the printable registration – Divorce Group Registration Form and mail or fax back to Calm Waters. Questions or inquiries can be directed to Program Director Maribeth Govin.