Teen First Divorce Treatment Program: A Facilitator's Guide for Group Work with Adolescents

This facilitator’s guide details procedures for conducting engaging and age-appropriate group sessions to help adolescents adapt quickly to the changes brought about by parental divorce or separation. The guide has everything a therapist or counsellor needs to facilitate the program, including a full script and abbreviated outline for each session, numerous handouts for group members and parents, a sample consent form, a program graduation certificate, and much more.

Sessions give teens the opportunity to clarify misperceptions about divorce and separation, engage in meaningful activities, and discuss topics that they may not have been allowed to explore previously. Because some of these topics may be difficult, each group session includes practice of relaxation skills, homework focused on seeking social support, and opportunities for adaptive cognitive coping.

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Table of Contents

Instructions for Facilitators

Teen First Sessions

• Session 1—Understanding Divorce and Separation
• Session 2—Transitions Related to Divorce and Separation
• Session 3—Teen versus Parent Responsibilities
• Session 4—Communicating Feelings with Family
• Session 5 —How to Cope with Parent Conflict
• Session 6 —Gaining Social Support
• Session 7 —Building Cognitive Skills
• Session 8—Positive Aspects of Divorce and Separation

Optional Sessions

• Session 9—New Partners
• Session 10—Relaxation Techniques Review

Appendix A—Topic Cards and Group Rules Sign

Appendix B—Participant Handouts

Appendix C—Parent Handouts

Appendix D—Teen First Questionnaire

"These guides do a great job of normalizing the reality of different types of families while also providing behavioral and cognitive strategies for helping children deal with their strong emotions."
- Dr. Stephen Hupp, Professor of Clinical Child and School Psychology, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville