Program helps Airmen cope with divorce Published Jan. 6, 2011 By Senior Airman Marissa Tucker 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. (AFNS) -- Anyone who has been in the Air Force for more than a year has heard the horror stories about failed marriages and how hard it is to stay in a relationship with constant deployments and work stress. While falling in love and getting married can be the greatest experience of one's life, a divorce can be the polar opposite, leaving them feeling broken and alone, said Tech Sgt. Kimberly Browne, the 916th Force Support Squadron chief of readiness. "Divorce can tear you apart," Sergeant Browne said. "Without the right tools or a support system, the effects can continue to carry on for years." A reservist who has resided and worked near Seymour Johnson AFB for more than 20 years, Sergeant Browne knows firsthand the damage that can be caused by divorce. Through her experience and a program called DivorceCare, she worked through her struggles and now devotes her time to helping others overcome them as well. DivorceCare, a faith based, 13-step progressive program designed by 26 therapists, doctors, psychiatrists and licensed professionals is a nationally-known program that has helped thousands of people work through their divorce or separation. Sergeant Browne recently began to facilitate the sessions here in hopes of seeking out those who are in need of help and do not know where to go. The sessions begin with a video pertaining to the topic of that particular week. The themes include: The Road to Healing/Finding Help Facing My Anger Facing My Depression Facing my Loneliness What does the owners manual say? New Relationships Financial Survival KidCare Single Sexuality Forgiveness Reconciliation Moving on, Growing Closer to God "Everything we cover are key things anyone going through a divorce or separation can really use," she said. "A divorce can leave one feeling pretty lost, and the sessions are here to combat that. No one going through a divorce has to be alone in the process." The stigma about groups such as DivorceCare is that it consists of a group of people sitting around feeling sorry about themselves and crying, but DivorceCare is not about dwelling, it is about healing, she said. Participants are required to sign a confidentiality agreement promising they will not discuss what happens in the sessions outside of the sessions, which lends to the ability of them to have open and honest discussions. "This is not a bashing session where we sit around and gripe about our problems, we work through them. Sometimes we laugh, sometimes we cry. It's all about supporting each other," she said. After joining a church, Sergeant Browne began to facilitate a DivorceCare group for church members, where she had a lot of participation and saw many breakthroughs for people who were stuck in bad places after separations and divorces. She hopes to have the same successes in the program here. "Because I am in the military, I can relate to the lifestyle of Airmen here and I know how they are feeling," she said. "I know there are many people here who could benefit from this program, and I hope that we can spread the word about this opportunity. People spend thousands of dollars on therapy, this is free and effective." Anyone with access to the base is invited to attend including military members and civilians. People who are separated are invited and encouraged to attend also. "I've seen people who were able to reconcile their differences and not end their marriage," she said. "It really is possible, and that is what we hope to encourage." Many people have benefited from the lessons of the DivorceCare sessions here. A civilian who works here said the sessions gave him a new outlook on life. "What helped me most about DivorceCare was that it provided a relevant, timely, Biblically-based source of information on how to deal with all those feelings of anger, hurt, confusion, betrayal and just the uncertainty of how to handle the current situation I was in," he said. "DivorceCare also offers a great venue for developing long-lasting friendships and also provides a great support system for other people who were hurt or are hurting and who can then relate to how you are feeling." Sergeant Browne hopes to expand the reach of the sessions by including children into the courses. "Children are so innocent in the divorce and it takes as heavy as a toll on them as it does the adults," she said. "If we get enough participation, we can start the KidCare program, which has activities for children ages 5 to 12 to voice their feelings and emotions in a controlled environment."