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A Place to Grow: A therapeutic group f or children in separated families
Dr. Kirk Thoreson offers therapeutic groups designed to address the unique needs and concerns of children whose families have separated/divorced. Two groups are offered and focus on children ages 7-9 and 10-13. Participants engage in a variety of fun, engaging, therapeutic, and developmentally appropriate activities. Through the guided use of art, group discussions, and role plays, participants will practice coping skills. Session-by-session, creative exercises are utilized that reach children emotionally, offer them perspective, and empower them to develop a competent sense of self. When? At this time, summer groups are offered. Contact Dr. Thoreson for more information. Where? Denver; Colorado Executive Club Building; Intersection of I-25 and Colorado Blvd.
How long? The duration of the group is 12 weeks. The kids group last 1 hour. The big kids group lasts for 1 1/2 hours.
Cost? $60 per session
Parents? One Saturday morning mom’s group and dad’s group is included. Parents receive support and discuss their child’s developmental needs.
Why can a group be a good idea for children in separated families?
While appearing competent, even mature, some children in divorced families may still privately struggle with feelings of doubt, loss, and mistrust. Sadly, some children hide their struggle so as not to distress their parents. This makes it difficult for children to reach out for the support they need. In group, children learn from each other that they are “not the only one.” A sense of belonging naturally develops in a group and rekindles energy and inspires a renewed hope in the future. This reduces the feelings of guilt, shame, and isolation that can sometimes be attached to their family situation. Children’s coping abilities can be enhanced by their participation in structured activities that encourage self-expression in a supportive atmosphere. Parents also learn and receive support from each other.
What are the therapeutic goals?
1. Create common ground and safety and pleasurable opportunities to interact with same age peers. Children’s coping skills are enhanced when provided opportunities for self-expression in a supportive environment.
2. Explore the language of feelings as one method of coping with stressful situations.
3. Define and better understand the self. Learn more about one’s preferences, thoughts, ideas, and dreams. Develop a healthy, competent self-image.
4. Define the changes in one’s family. Explore the evolving relationships in the family.
5. Restore a sense of healthy idealism and hope in one’s future. What are some of the activities used in the group? How are they related to the therapeutic goals? 
Family Drawing:
Children are asked to draw their family. In this activity, they can find things in common with their peers as well as support for the many different forms of family.
Blind Walk: Each blind walker is blindfolded and led through an obstacle course. The activity builds unity and trust among children as they help one another to find their way.
Color Feelings: Children assign colors to basic and more complex feelings. The activity increases emotional awareness and introduces the group to the idea of blended feelings.
Inside Me/Outside Me: Children use two sheets of paper, stapled together, with an identical outline of a human figure on each sheet. Children color the top figure with colors of the feelings they show and the bottom figure with the feelings they keep inside. The activity helps children to understand that they do not have to control their feelings and ideas quite so much if they can control how they express them to other people.
A Fantasy Room: Participants are invited to imagine and then draw a private room that no one else can enter without their permission. In subsequent sessions, it becomes a place of retreat, where children can identify private thoughts, feelings, and wishes.
Role-Plays of Feelings and Actions: Participants role-play situations in which they or another person had very strong feelings and acted on them in an unhelpful way. The children then create revised role-plays to practice alternative methods of conflict resolution.
To inquire about children's group:
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