Surviving Divorce Support Group Etiquette

  1. Arrive within 15 minutes of the start time. The meetings are held in a secure area of the school and the doors are locked. Someone will be at the door until the start time. If you will be arriving more than 5 minutes late, we kindly ask you to review the session at home on your own and contact the Ministry Leaders with questions. Then we look forward to seeing you at the next session.
  2. Please do not come if you are sick (fever, cough, sore throat, vomiting, etc…). If you miss a meeting, you can review the materials that were covered by referencing your Personal Guide.
  3. Listen attentively to each person as a sign of respect. Avoid side conversations during the meeting time.
  4. Do not monopolize the conversation. Everyone needs the chance to share.
  5. Refrain from bashing the opposite sex. We need each other.
  6. Do not attack your former spouse’s character. Use good judgment when sharing and, please, no name-calling, even in jest.
  7. Do not attack anyone’s character. Instead of, “I hate that judge,” consider saying “I hate what happened to me in court.”
  8. Do not talk over others, cut them off, or correct them.
  9. Do not teach, preach, counsel, or give unsolicited advice to members. If you are an attorney, therapist, spiritual director, or catechist, please do share generic information with the group that may helpful. Do not share your business information during meeting time. You may share before or after.
  10. Share your own experience. Peer support can be valuable and is encouraged.
  11. Offer suggestions but avoid telling others what they “should” or “need to” do.
  12. Ask questions. Many of the questions you may have are addressed on the program website. You may remain silent if you do not feel like sharing.
  13. Do not bring handouts to the meeting unless your Ministry Leader pre-approves them.
  14. Maintain confidentiality. You never know who you might hurt by talking outside the group and as Catholics, we are called to be charitable and avoid gossip.
  15. Please feel free to return for the next twelve-week group and bring your previously used workbook. When you make the commitment to be part of a new group, you benefit from new peer support and new insights into the videos that you may have missed the first time. You may also be an encouragement and offer hope to the new group members.

The Ministry Leaders are not professional counselors, therapists, or attorneys. They will provide support within the boundaries of the ministry and for anything outside of those boundaries, they will direct you to local resources whenever necessary. Parish Priests will be referred whenever a topic or question falls in the Pastoral jurisdiction.