Going through a divorce? Looking for divorce support groups for men? Have questions about divorce support groups for men? Are you struggling to come to terms with the enormous changes in your life? If so, you are not alone!
Throughout this article, I will explain what divorce support groups for men all entail. I’ve been facilitating successful men’s support groups for over 11+ years. During that time, I’ve learned a lot about divorce processes for men. Let’s get started:
Table of Contents:
What Exactly Are Divorce Support Groups for Men?
Divorce can be stressful for everyone involved. And the reality of divorce is that most people have been affected by it. Women are more often reaching out for support during a divorce, that is why divorce support groups for men are so important. Divorce support groups for men are support groups that are tailored to men going through a divorce. Basically, divorce support groups are a group of people who meet to discuss and support each other while going through a divorce. When you join a support group like this, you will discuss matters around divorce and how to cope. You can even discuss how to start a support group yourself.
Finding the Best Divorce Support Group
Are you wanting to find the best divorce support group for you? There are some things you should consider before joining. Such as:
How often?
You’ll need to see if the meeting schedule works for your schedule. Some online divorce support group for men will be less of a commitment than others. How much do divorce support groups cost?
Location?
You will need to decide if online support groups or in-person support groups are best for you. During the COVID-19 pandemic, support groups are gearing towards online meetings. Once the virus is settled, people might go back to in-person meetings.
Size?
Maybe you’re a person who gets nervous in large group settings. This can make you not want to chat in front of others. So a smaller group setting might be best for you. You will know what size of a group is best for you. Find a group where you feel comfortable sharing information.
Cost?
Some support groups, such as a narcissist support group, will be more of a cost than others. You’ll need to find out how much you are willing to spend before joining a support group for divorce recovery. At Mensgroup, our groups are $35 per month. Advice often taught in divorce support groups for men
Goals?
What are some of your goals with your divorce support group journey? This most likely will be different for everyone. Settling goals will help you determine your success during your journey. It will also help you find the best support group for you. Peer support can help you reach your goals as well. Maybe you just want to get things off of your chest or find people that are going through the same thing you are going through. There will be a men’s divorce forum for men like that out there for you!
General Advice From Divorce Support Groups
Support groups are really helpful. After joining a divorce support group for men, you will receive a lot of information from your peers and your facilitator. Here is some advice that your group will most likely receive:
Suggestion # 1: No dating the first six months
You might think that jumping into another relationship is the best thing to do after a divorce. Most of the time, that isn’t the best idea. Especially since divorces can take a long time to actually process. You don’t want to bring your new partner into a relationship where your divorce isn’t even finalized yet. Jumping into a new relationship can feel comforting and might be a distraction from your divorce, but most men’s divorce support group facilitators will advise members to wait to date again after a divorce.
Suggestion # 2: Focus on you
Your well-being is important when going through a big change like a divorce. Make sure to check in with yourself and see what you need. Schedule that doctor’s appointment you’ve been putting off or go to that nutritionist you’ve always wanted to meet with. Take care of yourself even when things get stressful. Doing this can help with your self-esteem.
Suggestion # 3: Talk with others
Bottling in emotions about what you are going through isn’t healthy. Even if you are nervous to talk in front of your peers in your group, make small goals on sharing what is going on. It will take a lot of weight off of your shoulders. Mental health is very important when surviving divorce challenges.
Benefits of Divorce Support Groups for Men
With your divorce support group by your side, guys most often experience the following benefits:
- Not having to go through a divorce alone
- Learn about healthy ways to cope with a divorce
- Be a better father and/or getting through co-parenting
- A place to vent
- Can help find online divorce resources that you may not know of
- Learning about what other people are doing for child support challenges
- Create healthier romantic relationships for the future
- Communicating better with partners
- Feeling less isolated or lonely
- Reducing distress, depression, anxiety or fatigue
- Having a safe place to talk about things going on
- Gaining a sense of empowerment or hope
How These Meetings Usually Go
These points vary from meeting to meeting. But this is usually the general way on how meetings go:
- Usually, there are about 8 men in the group, plus the facilitator.
- Some divorce support groups for men will have a commitment requirement. At Mensgroup, we understand that life can get in the way and there is not a commitment requirement.
- The group needs to promise that they will follow the confidentiality rule
- You always get to choose your own level of participation. You do not have to speak if you do not want to.
- The group facilitator will lead the meetings and will be knowledgeable on how to keep the meetings going smoothly
5 Best Divorce Support Groups for Men
1. MensGroup
Mensgroup is a support group platform for guys and their main goal is to create a positive community where guys can talk about what they are going through and not bottle up their emotions. During these divorce support group meetings, you virtually chat with group members who are going through something similar. The benefits are that these online meetings are cost-effective and are proven to be effective.
2. Support Groups
Support Groups is a message forum that has specific forums for divorcing (or anything you are going through). Basically, you can chat with other people who are going through a similar challenge. This is helpful because there is no commitment pressure and you can read other people’s comments from the comfort of your own home.
3. DADS Canada
These men’s groups are geared towards fathers (father support groups) going through a divorce. They are stationed in Toronto and are a non-profit organization. DADS Canada can help you navigate communicating with your ex-wife and the challenges of co-parenting. This organization is also known for helping with legal advice.
4. Talk About Marriage
https://www.talkaboutmarriage.com/forums/going-through-divorce-or-separation.22/
This is essentially an online chat group where you can click on people’s questions and answer them and read comments from others who are going through similar challenges. Examples like this are: “Custody issues, can anyone help?” And the member lists the questions they have about custody and people answer them to their best ability if they have any info on the subject.
5. Marriage Builders
https://www.marriagebuilders.com/
This platform is for couples who are on the verge of divorce or have gone through one but want to fix their relationship. Maybe there are kids that are involved and staying together seems like the best options, even if there are numerous issues in the relationship. This website has links to blog posts that can help you rebuild your marriage. There are 3 programs you can choose from. The 1st program is advice on how to get through relationship challenges. The 2nd program is an online seminar and study courses on how to get back with your partner the right way. And the 3rd program is the branded Marriage Builders Online Program. Which has detailed step by step ways on how to help your marriage that might be broken?
Final Thoughts
Divorce support groups for men are an effective way to get through the ups and downs of a divorce.
If you are going through a divorce, our advice is to just get out and join a divorce support group. There are very few risks in doing so. You’ll learn how to navigate divorce in an effective way. We offer divorce support groups for men that meet [insert how often the meetings meet, for example: once a week for 6 weeks]
I hope this article answered all the questions you may have about divorce support groups for men.
*Sources: 1. Are divorce support groups helpful? 2. How do you recover from a divorce? 3. The 5 Stages of Divorce 4. Current Divorce Rate in the United States 5. Divorce Statistics
