Women’s Divorce & Separation Support Group
Empowered New Beginnings · Barrie, Ontario
Women’s Divorce & Separation
Support Group
you do not have to do this alone
Separation and divorce can leave you feeling overwhelmed, uncertain, and alone — affecting your confidence, identity, relationships, and emotional well-being. This therapist-led group provides a safe, supportive space to process grief, betrayal, anger, fear, and the many emotions that come with relationship loss.
support for women
Who This Group Is For
This group is a safe and nurturing space where women can connect, share experiences, and support one another in a non-judgmental environment.
It may be a fit for women who are going through separation or divorce, healing from betrayal trauma or infidelity, struggling with financial stress or fear about the future, feeling the physical effects of prolonged stress, carrying grief or shame, trying to make important decisions while emotionally overwhelmed, or simply wanting support from women who understand what this kind of pain feels like.
You are not weak for feeling overwhelmed. You are responding to a major life transition, and meaningful support can help.
hope and healing
What This Group Can Help With
you are not alone
Many Women Are Navigating This Behind Closed Doors
Even though separation can feel intensely private, many women are moving through similar pain quietly. Statistics Canada reported 42,933 divorces granted in Canada in 2020 — a reminder that divorce is common even when the emotional experience feels deeply isolating.
This group offers guided, expert-led sessions and practical tools, so you are not left to work it out on your own.
your facilitators
Facilitated by Cindy McAfee and Deirdre Maloney
Cindy McAfee
Founder · RSSW
Cindy has over 15 years of experience helping individuals, couples, and families navigate difficult life transitions. Her warm, client-centred approach combines evidence-based practices with authenticity and compassion.
Deirdre Maloney
Co-Facilitator
Deirdre co-facilitates the group with Cindy, bringing empathy, encouragement, and a genuine commitment to helping women feel heard and understood. Together, they provide a safe and supportive space for healing, growth, and connection during times of transition.
practical support too
Featuring Select Guest Speakers
Alongside emotional support, select sessions bring in practical expertise on the legal, financial, and physical realities of separation.
Giulia Papa
Family Lawyer · Accredited Family Mediator
Giulia is a family lawyer and Accredited Family Mediator with the Ontario Association for Family Mediation, an accreditation recognized in Ontario as a professional standard for family mediation. She holds an LL.B. from the University of Kent, was called to the Ontario Bar in 2020, and holds a Certificate in Dispute Resolution from Osgoode Hall Law School.
Trained in child-inclusive mediation and a Voice of the Child practitioner, Giulia facilitates productive, balanced discussions and prepares clear, comprehensive mediation agreements. Her approach is child-centred, trauma-aware, and grounded in dignity, clarity, and collaboration.
Dr. Stefania Tiveron
Naturopathic Doctor
Dr. Stefania helps people connect the dots between their symptoms and the deeper imbalances in their body. Her approach is grounded in personalized care and the understanding that healing happens where biology, mindset, and daily habits meet. She focuses on stress resilience, hormonal transitions, digestive wellness, immune support, and metabolic health.
In a guest session, Stefania may speak about the physical effects of prolonged stress during separation, including sleep disruption, hormone-related symptoms, burnout, and whole-person healing.
common fears about joining
You May Be Thinking…
These fears are normal. This is a supportive, judgment-free space where women can share experiences and grow in community. You do not need to show up polished, certain, or ready to share everything. You can begin exactly where you are.
what to expect
Guided Sessions, Practical Tools, Real Connection
This is a therapist-led support group that combines emotional support, guided discussion, reflection, and practical coping tools — not a lecture, and not something you have to perform in.
You can participate at your own pace. The intention is to create safety, not pressure. Alongside the emotional work, select guest sessions offer practical insight into health, mediation, and navigating the challenges that come with separation.
If you are not sure whether the group is right for you, a free 20-minute consultation is a simple place to start — you can ask questions and talk through what you are facing before deciding anything.
related support
Support That Often Goes Alongside This Group
Some women attend the group on its own; others pair it with individual support. Explore what else we offer in Barrie and online across Ontario.
common concerns
Frequently Asked Questions About the Group
01Is this group therapy or a support group?+
This is a therapist-led support group that combines emotional support, guided discussion, reflection, and practical coping tools — a guided, supportive space for healing and growth.
02Do I have to talk in every session?+
No. You can participate at your own pace. The intention is to create safety, not pressure, in a nurturing and non-judgmental group environment.
03Is this just for legally divorced women?+
No. This group is for women navigating separation, divorce, betrayal, or the emotional fallout of a major relationship rupture.
04Are Giulia Papa and Dr. Stefania Tiveron facilitators?+
No. The group is facilitated by Cindy McAfee and Deirdre Maloney. Giulia Papa and Dr. Stefania Tiveron may join select sessions as guest speakers.
05What if I’m feeling ashamed or overwhelmed?+
That is exactly the kind of experience many women bring into a group like this. The group is built around support, self-compassion, and healing in a judgment-free community.
06Will there be practical support too?+
Yes. In addition to emotional support, the group can include practical insights through select guest sessions related to health, mediation, and navigating separation-related challenges.
You’re Not Alone in This
If you are moving through separation, divorce, betrayal, or the collapse of the life you thought you were building, this group offers support, structure, and connection with women who understand.