Group Work with Latina Immigrant Women Keyla Stephens CNS 742 Fall 2013

Working with Latin Americans, considerations…  Among the largest immigrant groups -15% (Molina et al., 2009)  Four major subgroups: Mexican American, Central & South American, Puerto Rican, & Cuban American (Gladding, 2012)  Shared values include: importance of family, interdependence and cooperation, individual worth and dignity, and acceptance of life as it exists (Gladding, 2012)  Differences include: language, religious rituals, and celebrations (Gladding, 2012)

Benefits of Support Groups for Latina Women Survivors of Domestic Violence  Social support  Ability to speak  Mutuality  Bonding  Strength-based focus

Divorcing Abused Latina Immigrant Women’s Experiences with Domestic Violence Support Groups  2009 study by Molina, Lawrence, Azhar-Miller, and Rivera  High prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) among US Latinos (Molina et al., 2009)  Separation from family support system  Isolation and dependency

Topics  Cycle of violence  Power and control  Survivor’s rights and the legal system  Self-esteem  Abuser behavior  Effects on children  Adjusting to living in the U.S.  Member strengths and obstacles  Taking responsibility  Living without the partner  Preparation for court  Becoming independent  Ways of coping with divorce

Conclusion Group work with Latina immigrant women can be beneficial and effective in transforming their thinking.

References  Gladding, S. T. (2012). Groups: A counseling specialty (6 th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.  Molina, O., Lawrence, S. A., Azhar-Miller, A., & Rivera, M. (2009). Divorcing abused Latina immigrant women’s experiences with domestic violence support groups. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 50:7, DOI: /