Meeting time and location
The group meets every Sunday throughout the year from 5:00 to 6:30 PM, and we mean every
Sunday: Christmas Eve, 4th of July -- we'll be there. There is no charge for the group, although a voluntary collection is taken to help with childcare, workshops, and other expenses. Participants may join the group at any time -- walk-ins are welcome -- and childcare is provided at no charge.
The group meets on the second floor of the education wing of Crescent Hill Baptist Church, which is located at 2800 Frankfort Avenue at the corner of Birchwood Avenue -- click for
map.
Philosophy & Purpose
The group started in 1982 as one of the single adult ministries of
Crescent Hill Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky. Although sponsored by the church, we are
self-governing and take a non-faith-based approach to divorce recovery. We hope
that you will find in the support group a place to safely express your feelings, to experience
personal growth, and to experiment with new ways of relating to others.
The purpose of the group is for people experiencing separation or divorce to provide each other
with emotional support, practical advice, and a sense of community. While there are often conversations
which are healing and therapeutic, these groups should not be confused with therapy. No subject is off
limits in the support group, but some issues may come up that need to be dealt with further with a
therapist or in a therapy setting.
Group sessions
The whole group meets briefly for announcements, then divides into assigned groups of 6-10 participants
and two trained facilitators. At the start of each small group session, you will be asked to share your
name, the status of your divorce or separation, what kind of emotional week you have had, and whether or
not you need to claim time to work on your issues with the group. In order that everyone has adequate time,
we try to accomplish individual work within a 15-20 minute time period.
Members of each group commit to attend for a 16-week period, and are expected to make attendance a
priority -- participating in group isn't just something to do when nothing else is available. If a
member is to be absent, she or he agrees to contact another member of the group or a facilitator
who will be present. The reason for this commitment is that this is a support group; other
people may be concerned for you, and other members might have come to share a problem with you and
want your support. Your absence may diminish the recovery process of others.
Confidentiality
Any subject or feeling may be expressed in group, but is not to be mentioned outside of the group
to anyone, including the individual who expressed it. (Group leaders will, however, act
responsibly if information provided indicates that follow-up is necessary.)
Dating within the group
The support group is not a dating service -- think of it as an undating service, where you learn to live comfortably with yourself before you even think about living with someone else again. The group's strong recommendation is that you avoid dating within your small group, because experience has shown that it will interfere with your recovery from divorce -- you will be hesitant about discussing previous relationships in the presence of someone you are dating. If you do date within your small group, you must be willing to have that relationship discussed within the group.
Using the group to best advantage
Work often... even if you feel you have nothing to bring up. Claim time at least once a month to
talk about what is going on in your life, and how you feel about it. If you have nothing on which
to work, the group will help by asking questions. Remember that you do not need a crisis to
work; sometimes the most important work can be done on the routine things that are occurring in
your life. When you are in divorce, almost every issue becomes a divorce issue -- stress at work,
relating to your children, financial changes -- and the input of the others in your group can help
you keep them in perspective and find solutions, especially when you can no longer depend on a spouse for support.
