In summer 2005, Barbara Marcum met with Marcia Fennell in Dallas. Marcia was suffering with the heartache that comes from being estranged by an adult child.

It seemed that Ms. Fennell was not alone. In fact, Barbara thought it is much more common than expected. She knew other women with less-than-perfect relationships with their adult children, be it a daughter, a son, an “in-law” or step-child.

Together, a decision was made to start a monthly support group for women with estranged adult children, a non-denominational and intimate gathering, at no charge.

Licensed Professional Counselor, Dr. Jane K. Toler, was asked to be the facilitator and to provide the programs for the Dallas H.E.R.group, originally called “The Unintentional Divide”. Topics run the gamut from “how to navigate the holidays” to “being ready for reconciliation”.

Five women showed up for the first meeting held in September 2005 at Highland Park United Methodist Church (HPUMC). They all shared painful experiences. They found they felt the same frustrations, guilt, and shame, along with the emotional pain that comes when there is a strained or non-existent relationship with one’s adult child.

When a mother cannot experience a “June Cleaver-type” of family relationship, it is often devastating to her.

News of the support group spread mainly by word-of-mouth, as attendees found hope and encouragement from the monthly meetings, held every second Monday of the month at HPUMC from 6-7:30 PM. Success stories of improved relationships began to emerge; such is the case of Ms. Fennell and her adult daughter.

An article that appeared in the Dallas Morning News February 4, 2006 (page 2H) attracted a new, larger number of women attendees from across the Dallas-Ft. Worth area.

“The Unintentional Divide” changed its name to “Healing Estranged Relationships “ in March 2006, as it was felt to be reflective of our mission and our purpose.

Healing Estranged Relationships celebrated its first anniversary in September 2006, and with this came a desire to duplicate the model and to expand the programs, first in Texas and eventually coast-to-coast.

In October 2006, HEALING ESTRANGED RELATIONSHIPS, INC. became a non profit corporation under Texas law.

On March 6, 2008, Steve Blow, well-known coluumnist at the DALLAS MORNING NEWS, wrote a lengthy story about H.E.R.  Our attendees swelled at the next meeting and we moved into larger space at HPUMC. (See Press Release page).

Our vision for the future is to expand our programs and establish new venues for HEALING ESTRANGED RELATIONSHIPS, INC. (“H.E.R. Group”).

We completed our third year of activities and program presentations in Dallas, October 2008.  As Healing Estranged Relationships moves into our fourth year, we are proud to say we are developing additional HER groups across the USA, Canada and abroad.

The "new" H.E.R.Group in Houston will meet the second Tuesday of  each month, beginning December 9, 2008. (See Meeting Site page for location.)

We will continue to offer group support with concrete strategies for mending estrangements, healing from within, while discovering new ways of relating.