|
Author: Saundra L. Washington Article source: http://www.linda-angel.com/. Used with author's permission.
Technically, there are two types of grief groups. Informational and support groups are for individuals who have an interest in the grief process. The purpose of these groups is to promote grief education and awareness. It covers the grief process in a more academic fashion.
The second type of grief group is a process and personal growth oriented group focusing on facilitating the individual participant's own personal loss management. It is therapeutic in nature and can take many different forms including: Individuals, Couples, Father's, Mother's, Siblings, and Family groups. Each group typically focuses on a specific type of loss (death-loss, suicide, homicide, SIDS, divorce, etc) as well as the unique needs of the group members. Though many commonalities exist between these groups each has its own unique dynamics and concerns. We will be focusing on this type of group, sometimes referred to as Grief Recovery groups. I prefer the term "Grief Management".
Before we can help people manage their grief, we need to understand the term "manage." Manage can mean to succeed in doing something, especially something that seems difficult or impossible. The intransitive verb means to survive or continue despite difficulties, especially a lack of resources. Both of these variant meanings apply to managing grief. "Healing" on the other hand implies a restoration to a former state. Though we are talking semantics, it is important to understand that loss leaves a permanent void; a permanent part of the survivor is missing, never to be restored.
Grief
Grief is characterized by confusion in which it is difficult to pinpoint feelings. Dozens of emotional reactions occur simultaneously. Analyzing the parts of grief can help the person to segregate one feeling from another. Once a feeling is identified, it can be expressed. It can be brought out into the open where healing takes place.
Grief not only causes many physical reactions, but it is accompanied by many practical, social, philosophical, and spiritual problems as well. A person may not receive or expect to receive answers to the problems, but he/she should certainly have the chance to voice the questions. There are answers and solutions to many problems in grief. When time is taken to do problem solving, the instances of unresolved grief are reduced.
Given proper support, grievers are enabled to move to a state of peace and acceptance. This is the goal of Grief Management groups.
Group Leaders/Facilitators:
When working with grieving individuals in a group, you must be clear about your role in the process. As grief facilitators we assume important responsibilities. The bereaved should be able to expect a high degree of professionalism from us. It is necessary for us to have a working knowledge of the grief process, group dynamics, and the impact significant loss has on the psyche. Active listening and helping skills are extremely important. We listen empathetically to their stories, give validation, interpret the emotional content, and translate it into the language of grief.
All Grief Facilitators must:
Be open to what grievers can teach you about grief and mourning. Understand that the focus of attention during group is on each member's journey through their own particular grief work. The group exists for their benefit. Our job is to create the environment, set the course, and steer the group process within the boundaries of mutual respect and purposeful dialogue. It is beneficial to everyone to stay "on task" and "on topic."
Accept all group members unconditionally, "as they are." We are not there to "do therapy" with them. We cannot take away their pain or in any way "fix" their lives. Each person's viewpoint is appropriate because it is formed from his or her own personal knowledge and experiences with life up to this moment in time. Our job is to listen without judging and offer new understanding and perspective. We can validate their feelings as they tell about their experiences. We can help them to externalize their thoughts. We can assist with bringing feelings to the surface. We can facilitate expression in the language of grief.
Be open to the idea that most often it is within the context of sharing and discussion that we also teach. For example, we may use what a mother shares as a way to teach the common denominators of grief and mourning. As facilitators we may ask: "Has anyone else felt like Saundra feels?" or "feelings of isolation are experienced by many people, Nicole, tell us more about how it feels for you," or "It sounds like what Grant is saying about feeling guilty is similar to Gail's experience. Can anyone else add to that?" or "What other feelings are a normal part of grieving?"
Our expectation is that this kind of interactive sharing will bring them new information, new experience, and new insight that will promote positive healing. The main aspect to remember though is to "keep the ball in their court." It is their life, their feelings, and their job to do the grief work. Be attuned to each griever, to the feelings behind his/her words, and to the overall atmosphere in the room. We want each participant to have an equal chance to be heard. Each participant deserves the full attention of the group while sharing. We make every effort to include everyone in all activities and discussions, while still allowing them the freedom to refrain or "pass" if they choose.
Recognize that your role is to help the bereaved understand and then move through the tasks of grief. Covering this agenda is desirable; however, "the best laid plans" may go out the window in favor of the agenda that the griever brings to the session. It is important to work through their immediate concerns and burdens. We want to stay flexible. We remind ourselves that we can almost always expect unfinished business at the end of each session. In my experience and in the experience of many colleagues, it has been found that planned topics, tasks, and curriculum ultimately get covered in a natural and spontaneously relevant way.
Be willing to share your role as facilitator. As your group evolves, some members will probably exert themselves as unofficial co-facilitators. Encourage them. Go with the immediate flow (dynamic). The skill, of course, is to intervene and redirect when the dynamic is not healthy.
Understand that the atmosphere of each group session may be distinctively varied. The temperaments, personalities, and experiences of everyone present will be significant factors in how the group interacts. Do not be surprised or discouraged by the variations in the mood from one session to the next. Sometimes we worry that no "progress" is being made or that we have "lost control." Other times the group is so quiet that it is like "pulling teeth" to get a response or, in contrast, they may digress to any other topic rather than "deal with the grief." It is frustrating! We continually relearn to deal with our lofty expectations by replacing them with more gentle assessments of what is being accomplished. Each group can have a different flavor and still be highly effective, even if at the onset we had our doubts that the group would ever "gel." Our own hindsight and the members' evaluations at the end of the series often reveal and affirm the value of each group's process.
A Word of Caution
There is a fine line between strong group facilitating and strong-arming or dominating your group. While members will appreciate your nurturing leadership, they will not appreciate too tight a rein on the group's interaction. Sometimes that means letting the group dynamic dictate what will happen next. Other times your "gentle firmness" will be welcomed as you guide the group in discussion.
I have found the most effective facilitators in grief management groups lead unobtrusively but firmly. That is, they are warm and responsive and at the same time they make others feel comfortable that someone is "in charge." Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, veteran social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach which can be reviewed on her site. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: My Grief Management Workbook, is expected to be available in July.
You are welcome to visit AMEN Ministries: Your Souls' service Station for spiritual refreshing, soul edification or to browse our newly expanded mini shopping mall. http://www.clergyservices4u.org
Blessings to all!
How to Build Your Site with Other Peoples Content -- Part 1
Writing content for an information-rich site can be time-consuming and tedious, especially if you're not a born writer. But there are many ways you can add subs...
Dog Lover Gifts
How can you not simply adore "man's best friend?" Dog lover gifts are often the ideal and thoughtful present for anyone who owns one or more dogs.
Help for Women with Fibroids
Wise Woman herbal and home remedies are simple, safe ways to help yourself when you have a diagnosis of uterine fibroids.
Were You Bamboozled by Google?
It's still happening. "Florida," "Boston," "Ginger," and "Brandy" are just a few of the many Google updates that have hit within the last few months. And Google...
Diets, Diets, Diets…Do They Work?
Almost everyone has attempted to follow diets and weight loss programs at some time in their lives. The trouble with so many diets and low fat diets is that the...
Do these Zits Mean Anything? An Acne Treatment That Uses Modern Science and Ancient Wisdom
Are your suffering with acne? An effective acne treatment has remained elusive because the deeper meanings behind the information-packed pimples are too often n...
Free Credit Card Processing for Business Owners
Would you like to upgrade your company's operations by taking advantage of free credit card processing for business owners? There has never been a better time t...
A New Dad To Be? Deer in the headlights?
Ok. So you're a dad to be. If you're like most men, this can be a scary situation. We go through so many emotions and sometimes we don't know what to think o...
The X-factor
Would you agree that today most of us have the same set of opportunities and the same set potential? If you agree with me, then perhaps you might like to consi...
Jobseekers! Look For Smoke, Not Fire
"If you always do what you've always done, you will always get what you've always received," said some wise person. This is certainly true when it comes to job-...
The History of Costume Jewelry
There is virtually no difference between costume jewelry and antique jewelry. Costume Jewelry dates back to the 1930s.
Cheap Web Design
You've decided you need a website. What next? Finding the right person or company to build it for you can be a minefield. Price is an obvious consideration but ...
Relationship Advice: 10 Tips for a Blissful Relationship
So many relationships stink! This is because relationships can be hard work, and many people are not sure what to do. Here are 10 tips to get you headed toward ...
How To Go From Under Dog to Top Dog by Unleashing The Power Of a Postcard
Unleash the power of a postcard to grow your business
What is Passion?
For a word with origins that mean to suffer, many view passion as what inspires us to reach new levels. To better understand passion may begin by defining passi...
The Post-Holiday Blues In Stepfamilies
Article provides information and advice for stepfamilies and single parents about how to cope with post-holiday blues.
Spanish Food - The Perfect Paella
Looking for a traditional Spanish recipe? Without doubt, the
best-known is going to be the prodigious paella ... that tasty,
adaptable, gregarious dish famed t...
What is a Student Loan?
Not everyone is aware of what is a student loan?
Dallas Wedding Receptions
The most important day of your life is drawing near and you want to plan it to perfection. Everything has to be just right, the chapel, the dresses, the food an...
Eczema and Psoriasis- Information on the Conditions and the Introduction of All-natural Relief
The afflictions of severe skin conditions associated with eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis affect millions. To date, many medicinal and steroidal creams have b...
Want Permanent Weight Loss Results? Healthy Eating is the Key
Dieting is not about eating less and exercising more. If it was we wouldn't spend the most per capita on weight loss and still be the fattest. Learn what else i...
Search Engine Strategies for Affiliate Websites
Affiliate marketing on the Internet is going to take a big hit if the major search engines continue to weed out affiliate marketing websites with duplicate cont...
Holy and Unholy Numbers
Many of our great religions hold that numbers contain hidden meanings that in turn hold the mysteries of the universe and God within them. Ancient Hebrew mystic...
Credit Card Insurance
Things ain't what they appear to be when it comes to covering your payments ...
|
Print this page