Divorced Fathers Support Group Launched by Marlon Familton and Collaborative Couples & Family Counseling, LLC in Bellevue Washington

Bellevue, WA, September 18, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Marlon Familton and Collaborative Couples & Family Counseling, LLC in Bellevue Washington announce the start up of a Divorced Fathers Support Group. The goal in creating these groups are to provide a place where divorced fathers can share their struggles, receive encouragement and connect to resources that will enable them to better manage post divorce life that includes a close connection with their children.

Research has shown that children who are connected with both parents are healthier and happier. Data on children from father-absent homes is sobering. The National Fatherhood Initiative reports "About 40 percent of children in father-absent homes have not seen their father at all during the past year." The results for children are devastating. According to the US Dept. of Health & Human Services, children from fatherless homes account for 63% of youth suicides, 71% of teen pregnancies and 90% of homeless and runaway children.

"As a divorced father myself, I understand the difficulty in staying close to a child when emotions about a divorce and the ex are high," Marlon Familton says. "As a therapist working to better relationships among couples and families, it is a natural area for me to work. I am very excited about the chance to empower divorced fathers to stay close and connected to their children."

The first meeting is scheduled for early October of 2008. Each group is set to run once per week for two hours over an eight week stretch at the Bellevue office of Collaborative Couples & Family Counseling, LLC.

"The overall focus is on supporting divorced fathers as they work to juggle their emotions during and after divorce and to nurture their children's need for connection and security," Familton says. "I have connected with Steven Ashley of the Divorced Father's Network in California and look forward to receiving guidance from them in making these groups a positive experience for participants."

The group will emphasize co-parenting, a principal important to the Divorced Father's Network (www.divorcedfathers.org). Familton says his group will use Steven Ashley's book "Fathers Are Forever: A Co-Parenting Guide for the 21st Century" as a guide.

Collaborative Couples & Family Counseling, LLC is run by Marlon Familton, a marriage and family therapist in Bellevue Washington. Familton is trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy and specializes in healing and strengthening relationships between couples, families and individuals.

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