03: Support Groups Are Essential with Susan Pease Gadoua, LCSW

This week’s guest is a licensed therapist based in San Francisco Bay Area, Therapist Susan Gadoua, L.C.S.W.  She counsels clients via phone or Skype all over the world. She is the author of Contemplating Divorce, A Step-by-Step Guide to Deciding Whether to Stay or Go and Stronger Day by Day: Reflections for Healing and Rebuilding After Divorce. She has co-authored with journalist, Vicki Larson, the book The New I Do, Reshaping Marriage for Skeptics, Realists and Rebels.  Susan also authored an eBook entitled, The Top Ten Misguided Reasons to Stay in a Bad Marriage. She conducts workshops and retreats and is a sought-out speaker on marriage and divorce. She has appeared on television, radio and print, including The CBS Early Show and publications such as The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Huffington Post, Psychology Today, and Divorce Magazine.   What you will hear in this episode    How helpful it is for solo parents to join a community  What marginalization is  The change in life and social circle can cause isolation  The transfer of location can also cause isolation  How divorce can cause emotional distress  How a separation/divorce support group can differ from therapy  What a divorce parent struggles with  When to join a support group Precautions in telling your pain and personal details to a social media group  Why your common friends may not be the right people to talk to Confidentiality and personal security in joining support groups  Susan is not worried about people reaching out to her; but she worries about people who stay isolated and drown themselves in alcohol      Resource Center:    Website:  http://www.soloparentlife.com Subscribe to the Podcast:  Itunes Join the Facebook Group: Solo Parent Life Podcast Community