“The quality and quantity of understanding support you get during your work of mourning will have a major influence on your capacity of heal. You cannot – nor should you try to – do this alone. Drawing on the experiences and encouragement of friends and fellow grievers is not a weakness but a healthy human need.”
~Alan Wolfelt, Understanding Your Grief
The loss of someone you love can be one of life’s most difficult experiences. A bereavement group is a safe place for you to share the story of your loss under the guidance of a highly skilled professional counselor. Through the group, you can come together with others who are also grieving during this sensitive, vulnerable time.
You need to tell your story, again and again. You need someone to listen to you with acceptance, without judgment. You need to feel understood. Through this process of telling, re-telling, listening, and sharing, our group members realize that they are not alone. Those who are farther along in the process may provide a beacon of hope for others.
During these helpful sessions, Hope’s bereavement counselor will provide educational material on the grief process. Participants will learn that much of what they’re experiencing is completely normal. The counselor is not the only resource; many times, other group members will share tips on what they’re doing to cope with loss.
As the weeks pass, bereavement group members form a community. You will find that you are no longer alone. Together, you can move from the depths of grief to a place where the memory of your loved one brings a smile before a tear.
