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"To perceive a new aspect of oneself is the first step toward changing the concept of oneself. The new element is, in an understanding atmosphere, owned and assimilated into a now altered self-concept. This is the basis, in my estimation, of the behavior changes which come about as a result of therapy or groups and so on. Once the self-concept changes, behaviour changes to match the freshly perceived self." - Carl Rogers

The aims of our peer support services.

After at least three months involvement in our peer support groups, our participants will have learnt to Express their feelings about their divorce, separation and or relationship breakdown Feel more trusting and supported both in and out of the group setting Develop peer leadership skills to support other parents facing similar situations Develop the capacity to be forward-focused about their future rather than dwelling on their past Practice the use of respect with the other parent regardless of what has occurred in the past And finally, Develop an improved relationship with their children, of course where contact permits.

"What is Effect On the person Who is the recipient Of a Degree of Empathic Listening In the first place It dissolves Alienation For the moment At least the Recipient finds himself A Connected Part of the Human race While he may not Articulate It clearly, his Experience goes Something like this I've been talking about hidden things, partly veiled even from myself. Feelings that are strange, possibly abnormal. Feelings I've never communicated to another, not even clearly to myself. And yet he or she has understood, understood them even more clearly than I do. If he knows what I'm talking about, what I mean, then to this degree I'm not so strange or so alien or set apart. I make sense to another human being. So I am in touch with, even in relationship with others. I am no longer an isolate." - Carl Rogers

Our peer support group as a psychotherapeutic and psychoeducational group. 

The group purpose is to engage and support parents by listening and empathising with their life experience. The peer support groups use both psychotherapeutic and psychoeducational models as the structure that supports parents through their time of distress and build on their resilience and confidence to face changes in their life. Our peer support group is an example of psychotherapeutic and psychoeducational groups that are facilitated by trained peer facilitators. The groups are structured group experiences that benefit people from the same general population who share similar challenges or lived experiences in life. The groups purpose is to provide support, self-help, education, peer leadership development, a non-judgmental space and all of that through discussion. Using the peer support process, the participants have an opportunity to learn from other participants proactive coping strategies. The role of the group facilitator is to guide the group using the process outlined in our training. At an educational level, participants take meaning and learning from other people's stories that they can identify with and accept that they will not identify with the experiences of some other people. The groups are routinely evaluated and participants whose needs are beyond the scope of the group process are often referred and recommended to other services that can cater more effectively to their needs.

"True empathy is always free Of any evaluative or diagnostic quality. This comes across to the recipient with some surprise. “If I’m not being judged, perhaps I’m not so evil or abnormal as I thought. Perhaps I don’t have to judge myself so harshly?” Thus gradually the possibility of self acceptance is increased." - Car Rogers

Peer Support Group Facilitators.

Our peer support group facilitators are volunteers. The group facilitators, together with the group managers and promoters, are all leaders as they coordinate, organise and ensure the successful operation of regular peer support groups in their community. The group facilitators allow the group members to focus on supporting other separated parents to have control, growth and change in their life and their new family situation using person-centred experience. Over the years, however, the research evidence keeps piling up and it points strongly to the conclusion... that a high degree of empathy in a relationship is possibly the most potent factor, and certainly one of the most potent factors, in bringing about change and learning. The group leaders are also helping non-custodial parents discover their own road map for life beyond family separation.