The Waiting Heart

The group is intended for parents and stepparents who are experiencing estrangement, limited contact, or significant relationship challenges with an adult child.

Participation is limited to approved attendees who have completed the screening process.

The screening process helps ensure that the group is a good fit for each participant and that everyone understands the purpose and expectations of the group.

Screening also helps maintain a safe, respectful, and supportive environment for all attendees.

Not every support group is appropriate for every individual, and participation may be declined if the group is not determined to be a suitable fit.

The Waiting Heart is professionally facilitated and requires time and resources to provide a safe, supportive, and well-managed experience for participants.

The registration fee helps cover administrative costs, screening, scheduling, technology expenses, and professional facilitation.

Additionally, experience has shown that requiring a modest investment helps ensure that participants are genuinely committed to the group's purpose. It reduces the likelihood of individuals attending out of curiosity, disruption, or reasons unrelated to receiving support.

Because estrangement is such a personal and emotionally sensitive topic, maintaining a respectful and focused environment is essential. The screening process and registration fee help create a space where participants can feel comfortable sharing their experiences with others who are sincerely seeking support and understanding.

The goal is not to create a barrier to participation, but to help protect the integrity of the group and the experience of those who attend.

Each meeting includes a combination of education, facilitated discussion, and opportunities for connection with others facing similar challenges.

Topics may include grief, loss, coping strategies, communication, boundaries, self-care, reconciliation, and finding meaning and purpose despite uncertainty.

Participants are never required to share more than they feel comfortable discussing.

Many participants attend because they hope for reconciliation.

The group does not discourage hope. At the same time, participants are encouraged to focus on their own healing, growth, and well-being regardless of the outcome of the relationship.

The future of any individual relationship cannot be predicted or guaranteed.

Every family story is unique.

The group is not designed to determine who is right or wrong, assign blame, or adjudicate family disputes.

Instead, participants are encouraged to explore their experiences honestly, consider opportunities for growth, and focus on what is within their control moving forward.

Most parents can identify things they wish they had done differently.

The Waiting Heart is a judgment-free environment where participants are encouraged to engage in honest self-reflection while also practicing self-compassion.

The goal is not perfection. The goal is learning, healing, and personal growth.

Many parents struggle with questions about whether other individuals, relationships, life events, or circumstances may have contributed to the estrangement.

While participants are welcome to discuss their experiences, the group is not designed to investigate, prove, or disprove the actions of any particular person.

The focus remains on understanding the estrangement experience, developing healthy coping strategies, and supporting personal growth and healing.

Absolutely.

Many participants find that support groups and individual therapy complement one another well.

The group is designed to provide peer support and education, while individual therapy can address personal mental health needs in greater depth.

Possibly.

Each spouse or partner must complete the screening process individually.

In some situations, it may be appropriate for both partners to attend. In others, separate participation may be recommended to ensure the best experience for all involved.

No.

Recording of meetings is strictly prohibited.

Participants are expected to respect the privacy of others and refrain from sharing personal information discussed within the group.

Participants are expected to maintain the privacy of fellow group members.

However, because multiple individuals are present, confidentiality cannot be guaranteed.

By participating, members acknowledge and accept this limitation.

Participants come from many different backgrounds and experiences.

Respectful disagreement is acceptable. Personal attacks, hostility, judgment, and disruptive behavior are not.

The goal is to create a space where participants can learn from one another, even when experiences differ.

Emotional reactions are normal and expected.

Estrangement often involves grief, loss, confusion, anger, sadness, hope, and uncertainty.

Participants are welcome to express emotions in a respectful manner and will be supported by the facilitator and fellow group members.

No.

Participants from all faith backgrounds, spiritual traditions, and personal belief systems are welcome.

The group focuses on support, education, and personal growth rather than any specific religious or spiritual perspective.

Participation is voluntary.

Some individuals discover that the group is exactly what they need. Others may determine that a different type of support is a better fit.

Either outcome is perfectly acceptable.

Our goal is to help individuals find the support that best serves their needs.

No.

The purpose of The Waiting Heart is not to determine the cause of an estrangement or to provide forensic opinions regarding family relationships.

Participants may have different beliefs about how and why their estrangement occurred. The group welcomes respectful discussion of those experiences while maintaining a focus on support, education, coping, and personal growth.

No.

The Waiting Heart operates as an open enrollment, closed participation group. New members may join after completing the screening process and receiving approval to participate.

This structure helps maintain a safe, respectful, and supportive environment while ensuring that attendees are participating for the intended purpose of support, education, and healing.