A Sense of Sisterhood: A Qualitative Case Study of a Flexibly Structured, Long-Term Therapy Group for Divorced Women

Abstract

This study incorporated ethnographic and phenomenological components to understand the individual and group experience of women who participated in a long-term, flexibly structured group for divorced women. Data included focus groups with both the participants (n = 3) and therapists (n = 4); individual interviews with the woman (n = 6) and therapists (n = 7); and transcripts from 22 different sessions that spanned the life of the group (12 that specifically focused on transitions within the group and 10 that were randomly chosen). Emerging themes centered on the positive experience of the group, the group as a safe place, the collaborative process of the group, and the gender-split of the therapists. Attachment theory, feminist ideology, and collaborative language systems are used to further explore the findings. Based on these results specific clinical implications are addressed that may help clinicians who work with women dealing with divorce.

“That chair work thing was great”: a pilot study of group-based emotion-focused therapy for anxiety and depression

“…Construction of the semi-structured interview questions was based on qualitative interview guidelines outlined in the literature (Creswell, 2003(Creswell, , 2007Merriam, 2009), phenomenological perspectives (Creswell, 2003(Creswell, , 2007Smith & Eatough, 2007;Smith & Osborn, 2008), and group-based psychotherapy interview schedules (Kimball, Wieling, & Brimhall, 2009;Seamoore, Buckroyd, & Stott, 2006). The interview schedule was not prescriptive; rather, it served as a basis for conversation with the participants and aimed to keep the participants engaged, talking freely, and sharing all thoughts about their experience, both positive and negative (Creswell, 2007;Merriam, 2009).…”

U.S. Military Women and Divorce: Separating the Issues

“…Support At the same time, it is important to examine specific ways in which women can be supported through the process of divorce recovery. Kimball et al (2009) reported a case study on the usefulness of group interventions for divorcing or post-divorce women with an emphasis on an open forum providing support for individuals with similar relationship/divorce experiences. Helping military women to share resources, build relationships, and provide social support can be goals of such work.…”

“…Several hypotheses will be examined in an attempt to explain the increased number of women in the military who are experiencing divorce. First, it is possible that the demands of military life are simply too great to support longevity in marriages (Karney & Crown, 2007;Kimball, Wieling, & Brimhall, 2009). Karney & Crown's study considered deployments, an obvious job stress that nonmilitary women do not face, as a risk factor for divorce (2007).…”

Women's Experiences of Participation in a Feminist Group for Women with Complex Mental Health Issues

“…A qualitative report (Kimball, Wieling and Brimhall, 2009) studied participants in a long-term, flexibly structured group for divorced women. Findings included that participants experienced the group as positive, and as a safe place, that the support of other women, as well as not feeling alone in their struggle, was important.…”