Divorce Support Groups in Washington, DC

Individuals may feel a number of emotions following a divorce, such as shock, guilt, grief, anger, and fear. Therapists offer a non-judgmental space for individuals to talk about what they’ve experienced and process their emotions. Therapists will help clients develop coping strategies. They can also help a client rebuild their sense of self and self-worth and talk about what a happier future might look like.

There are several types of therapy that may be useful for divorce, including cognitive behavioral, acceptance and commitment, solution-focused brief, and mindfulness-based therapies. Many therapy types are talk-therapy based, which is typically the most popular option for individuals dealing with divorce. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a widely-used talk therapy, however, there’s no specific therapy type that’s designed to help people with divorce, and different types will work depending on the person.

When the feelings of a divorced individual, or an individual going through the process of divorce, begin to disrupt healthy daily functioning, it may be a good time to look into therapy. If a person finds that they are not performing at work due to problems with anxiety or motivation, if they’re no longer seeing friends due to feelings of shame, or if they’re not properly taking care of themselves as a result of depression, speaking to a professional could help.

It’s helpful to express concern and love for the individual while framing therapy as a tool for improving their life. Sharing how the individual appears to be suffering, and what effects it has on them or on their children, should be done with compassion and empathy. It may be useful to devise a game plan—breaking the process down into parts, such as finding a therapist, making appointments, and looking into insurance coverage.