Do you find yourself in a season of change due to separation and/or divorce? 

This experience can be isolating, but you do not have to go through it alone.

The Weekly Divorce and Separation Support Group for Women is a safe and supportive processing group where you can share your journey, and be seen and heard by other women going through similar circumstances. 

Together, we will work to build coping skills for managing challenging emotions, examine beliefs and self-talk about separation and divorce, explore your redefined sense of self and identity, and gain confidence as you move forward into your new chapter.  

Typically, the group discusses the following topics over the course of the 8-week cycle: 

  • Emotions surrounding separation/divorce (anger, hurt, sadness, grief, anxiety, confusion, and others) and how to cope with them
  • Self-worth / self-esteem
  • “Where do I go from here?”
  • Social repercussions of separation

Who

Women, ages 18+ residing in Virginia

When

Dates and weekly meeting time to be determined based on interest and number of participants

Participants commit to joining the group for an 8-week cycle

Where

Virtually on Zoom  (HIPAA-compliant version)

Cost

$75 per 55-minute weekly session (8-week commitment required)

A one-time $175 fee for a 55-minute individual intake session is required prior to group start.

Registration and Inquiries

Please note:

  • A 55-minute intake session must be scheduled prior to joining.
  • This group may be used as an adjunct to existing individual therapy. Though individual therapy is not a requirement for enrollment, it may be recommended based on individual needs.

About the Facilitator

Julia Ward, LPC earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Marketing at Cedar Crest College and completed a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Marymount University. Her training at Marymount shaped her into an effective counselor, using approaches that utilize a combination of techniques from Person-Centered Therapy, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). She has worked with clients who are anxious, depressed, experiencing life changes, processing past trauma, stressed, and who are processing current or past losses and grief. She works collaboratively with clients who are motivated, engaged in the counseling experience, and who want to explore themselves to find greater life satisfaction and happiness.

Counselor Julia Ward

Three Self-Care Tips if You’re Experiencing Divorce

Going through a divorce is often an overwhelming, scary, and lonely experience. The process of divorce is different for everyone – from circumstances that contributed to the marriage starting to dissolve, to whether you are the leaver, the one who was left, or if divorce was a mutually agreed on decision. Regardless, divorce causes a relational rupture between two people who once committed to each other for life, which requires substantial emotional repair and self-care.

5 Reasons to Join a Divorce Support Group

If you are just beginning the separation and/or divorce process, you might be feeling overwhelmed, confused, emotional, angry, lonely, or some combination of these emotions and many more. It may feel like every day is a struggle, trying to make sense of what has happened and what your next steps will be. Perhaps you have been divorced for a while already, but you still struggle with unresolved and/or recurring emotions. Sunstone’s Divorce/Separation Support Group for Women can help you during this time.