The Next Chapter Collective:
a Divorce and Relationship Endings Support Group
This 8-week group is a supportive, process-oriented space for adults of all genders navigating divorce and relationship endings — married or unmarried, monogamous or ENM/CNM, short-term or long-term, with or without kids. There’s no set curriculum or assignments, and direct advice isn’t the priority; we focus on being witnessed, reducing isolation, and experimenting with practical supports. The group is trauma-informed; LGBTQIA+-affirming; trans-affirming; disability- and chronic-illness-aware; and welcoming of diverse cultures, faiths, and family structures (including chosen family and co-parenting constellations).
Some topics may include:
Mapping the ending: separation, mediation, divorce, legal steps, timelines, and making informed choices
Grief in waves: anger, relief, guilt, numbness, and “both/and” feelings; anniversaries and difficult days
Identity shifts: who am I now? reframing roles, values, and future storylines
Communication with an ex: boundaries, parallel/co-parenting, and when (not) to engage
Kids and teens: developmentally attuned conversations, transitions, and shared routines
Finances & logistics: budgeting, housing, insurance, benefits, documentation, and dividing responsibilities
Social circles & community: navigating mutual friends, in-laws, and chosen family; managing opinions and rumors
Safety & stabilization: safety planning, tech/privacy boundaries, and support options for IPV or coercive control
Sex and intimacy after: healing, desire changes, dating apps, sexual health, and consent at a new pace
Attachment patterns & nervous-system care: grounding, co-regulation, and post-conflict recovery
Work and school impacts: accommodations, focus, performance, and energy management
Ritual and meaning-making: closing rituals, letting-go practices, memory work, and creating new traditions
Pets and possessions: compassionate decisions about shared animals and belongings
Teaming up for support: therapists, mediators/attorneys, financial planners, parenting coordinators, and how to vet fit
Compassion and self-regard: reducing shame, rebuilding trust in self, and celebrating small wins
Current Groups:
Wednesday 4pm-5:30pm - Online with Phoenix Mandel, AMFT, CSE
Group norms & access
Group norms & access: Cameras on or off—your preference. Share by voice or chat. We keep a gentle pace and honor silence; “pass” is always okay. Movement, stretching, stimming, fidgets, notes, snacks, and breaks are welcome—please do what helps. We avoid unsolicited advice; ask consent before offering suggestions. Sessions may include brief, optional practices (e.g., grounding, boundary/communication scripts, “hard-day” plans, five-minute resets, simple admin checklists) — take what helps and leave the rest. Let us know your access needs and we’ll adapt together. Every meeting is guided by confidentiality, consent, and care. This group is not a legal, medical, or crisis service; we can provide trusted resources and referrals as needed.
