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The following mindset and behaviors will be met through participation in this group:

1. Finding, having, and keeping a growth mindset.

2. Setting healthy, firm boundaries with any and everyone for the sake of valuing and prioritizing oneself.

3. Being able to identify one's "red flags" and gaps.

4. Doing the work to fill their own gaps and heal from their "red flags" to establish healthier future relationships.

These mindsets and behaviors are essential for the work it takes to grow and heal from our past traumas. If members show up daily, understanding the importance of the lists above, growth, healing, and emotional maturity will happen.

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This group is a supportive and empowering space for men and women ages 21-45 to navigate the complexities of their past relationships, process traumas, and identify their "red flags" – the patterns and behaviors that have hindered them in the past. This group is a journey of self-discovery, where members will connect with other people who understand the challenges of singlehood and divorce. Through a blend of engaging activities and open, honest discussions, they will hopefully gain new perspectives, challenge their limiting beliefs, and gain a deeper understanding of themselves.

Step 1: We will meet and focus on building relationships with each other. We will mingle, have casual conversations, and organically get to know each other. The leader will ask open-ended questions for everyone to talk about. The questions will be well thought out and intended to build trust and rapport with group members.

Step 2: Members will group up with 2 other people they feel they connected with the most, and will further discuss/answer prompted questions. This will be for them to feel that they have already created a friend group of people they trust, connect with, and can open up to. Each member will be on a journey of healing and self-discovery that not everyone they have formerly known will understand or accept, so these relationships will be crucial.

Step 3: Their group will be prompted to plan outings together. Each group will have to plan at least one outing a month.

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This group is designed for singles and divorcees, ages 21-45, who have experienced pain, heartbreak, and are struggling to find meaning, trustworthy relationships. The purpose of this group is to help individuals identify their "red flags", find their self-worth, set healthy boundaries and heal in a way that prepares them to find love and/or a healthy relationship again.

Through a needs assessment and research it is noted that this age range struggles the most in relationships and "loses themselves" in this life stage.

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To advertise for this group, I will create flyers and post them on social media. If people are interested, they will click on a link to fill out our Google Form, which will let us know who and how many people are interested. Social media will be my primary marketing tool because of how broad it is and how many people it can reach.

I will also reach out to other providers for referrals for clients that they see individually who could benefit from a group healing after a breakup or divorce.

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Once each participant (no more than 24) has been selected following their prospective interview, I will review informed consent and thoroughly explain the potential risks and harm from the group. I will ensure that each group member understands the scope of the service and the expectations of them and other group members.

Each participant will need to ensure they can meet twice a week, each for a 45-minute session at the local library in a conference room.

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ACA’s Code of Ethics helps guide LPCs in working with groups. It is recommended that LPCs screen prospective group counseling participants to be able to select members whose needs and goals are compatible with the goals of the group and whose well-being will not jeopardize the group experience. In group work, counselors also must clearly explain the importance and limitations of confidentiality within the group. Finally, in a group setting, it is the counselor’s responsibility to take precautions to protect clients from physical, emotional, or psychological trauma.

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Ethics - Tools to Ensure Ethical Standards Compliance

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The American Counseling Association Center for Practice, Policy, and Research is responsible for providing access to, and interpretation of, the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics.

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This group and its members of this group will benefit best from a Transformational Leadership style. I believe this leadership style will benefit members of the group best because of how hard change is. I think members will appreciate the push and someone inspiring them to be their absolute best, but also showing them the way.

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Article: A Chronic Identity Issue: Singleness and Divorce

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Article: A Chronic Identity Issue: Singleness and Divorce

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Through independent research, this article explores the identity crisis found in singleness and divorce, where people lose themselves and seek relationships to avoid healing/working on themselves. This article further supports the need for this group and its importance.

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A Chronic Identity Issue_ Singleness and Divorce

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Throughout this group, multiple Therapeutic Factors (TF) will be experienced and explored. These therapeutic factors will happen naturally as group members connect, learn, and hear from each other. The first therapeutic factor that members of this group will experience will be Universality. This (TF) will be experienced when hearing other people's stories and realizing that they aren't alone. The second (TF) will be Interpersonal Learning, which will be experienced as group members build relationships and start seeing certain dynamics and realize similar patterns, and build courage together to change certain habits and set boundaries. The last two will be Catharsis and Group Cohesiveness. As members start opening up and feeling comfortable sharing darker aspects of their lives, they will experience these two.

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The following group rules will be established prior to the beginning of the group:

1. You are not required to share, unless you choose to do so.

2. Confidentiality

3. Be respectful of everyone's time, story, and emotional regulation.

Additional group norms will be discussed and established with the group during the first session. These norms will be talked about and agreed upon before members sign their informed consent and agree to participate in this group.

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Each potential participant will express interest by filling out an Interest form. Once that form is filled out, I will then reach out to them to schedule a preliminary interview to determine if the group would be beneficial for the client and if they meet the eligibility requirements. Members will complete the Gallup StrengthFinder 2.0 and the Fisher Divorce Assessment Scale (FDAS) to determine where they can grow and what areas they can pull from in their strengths.

Online Assessment: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/strengthsfinder.aspx

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Fisher Divorce Adjustment Scale | Divorce Recovery Self-Assessment

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Take the Fisher Divorce Adjustment Survey to evaluate your emotional well-being post-divorce.

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According to Texas Administrative Code § 681.31, counseling methods may include group counseling to achieve mental, emotional, physical, social, moral, educational, spiritual, and career development throughout the life span. Counselors who work with groups are held to the same legal requirements as the Behavioral Health Executive Council.

According to Texas

Administrative Code § 681.35, a licensed professional counselor must provide counseling in a context of a professional relationship, regardless of setting. Before services begin, the LPC must obtain signed informed consent for the fees and arrangement of payment, counseling purposes, goals, and techniques, any restrictions placed on the counselor, the limits of confidentiality, any intent of the LPC to use another individual to provide counseling treatment intervention to the client, supervision of the LPC by another health care professional, the contact information for the Council, and the established plan for the custody and control of the client’s mental health records in the event of the LPC’s death, incapacity, or the termination of the counseling practice.

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Welcome to the Texas Administrative Code

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The Secretary of State does not interpret or enforce the Texas Administrative Code. If you need interpretation of a current rule, please contact the agency that promulgated the rule.

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Shaw, B. L. (1991). A chronic identity issue: Singleness and divorce. Issues in Religion and Psychotherapy, 17(1), 7.

Quinney, D. M., & Fouts, G. T. (2003). Resilience and divorce adjustment in adults participating in divorce recovery workshops. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 40(1-2), 55–68. https://doi.org/10.1300/J087v40n01_04