Grief Workshop

"Companions Through the Wilderness of Grief"

You Are Invited!

Have you had a loved one die recently? It's important in your grief that you have people who are there to support you. That can be family, friends, co-workers, church friends, or other caring persons. Sometimes it's helpful to talk with people who are also grieving. Being with such a group can help you to know that you are not alone in your grief.

We will gather together for eight weeks, providing you an opportunity to talk with others as welt as look at different topics around grief. We will hold reunions for continual support every 3 months for one year.

You will also have the opportunity to make a special journal for you to use as a part of your grief journey.

Grief work is hard work. We will provide you with some tools and support to do the work and continue to heal.

WHAT WE HOPE YOU WILL GAIN FROM THIS GROUP

• A realization that you are NOT crazy

• Some tools to heal in your grief

• A group of companions to support you in your grief.

Topics we will cover:

Relationships - how they change

Misconceptions of grief

Things I wish I had said/done

Nurturing Yourself

Who am I now?

Ball of Emotions

Telling Your Personal Story

Physical Symptoms of Grief

Appreciating Your Transformation

What we are not:

We are not a therapy group. There are times when an individual's needs surpass what the group and facilitators are able to provide. If the facilitators feel you would benefit from professional grief counseling, we will encourage you to seek such help. There are many wonderful professional therapists who can assist you with your grief work. The facilitators can provide you with a list of those resources.

Meeting Details

We will hold our group sessions twice a

year, beginning our groups in January and August.

For 2008, our planned meeting for the winter is to begin January 14 through March 3, meeting on Monday evenings.

We have tentatively planned our late summer session to begin August 12 and end September 30.

Please confirm these dates when you register.

Time: 6:30-8:30

Place: Lapel Branch Library

Address: 610 Main St.

Cost: $25 (scholarships are available.)

Click here for a registration form.

From Your Facilitators

We see ourselves as your companions as you walk through the wilderness of your grief We want you to know you are not alone. Everyone's grief is unique. We won't have all the answers. What we want to do is to create a safe space for you to share your story and begin or continue on the healing process. You will never get over your grief, nor does time heal all wounds. But, you can learn how to incorporate your grief into your life, so that it doesn't own you, but is a part of you. The wilderness of grief is unfamiliar and brutal, but we will be there to help you learn about the terrain. We are here to be your companions in the wilderness of your grief.

Your Support Group Facilitators:

Robyn Axel-Adams, M.Div. Robyn is an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church. She is also an Associate Chaplain in the Association of Professional Chaplains, having received her Chaplaincy training at Clarian Health. She has attended numerous grief workshops.

Dawn Cuthbert, Dawn in a local pastor in the United Methodist Church. She is the associate pastor at Trinity United Methodist Church in Lapel. She has led grief support groups at other churches.

Diane Thompson, RN, will be leading our session on Physical Symptoms of Grief.

Main Resources:

"Understanding Your Grief by Alan Wolfert," Center for Loss and Life Transitions

"When Mourning Dawns" by Jim Miller

Questions: Contact Pastor Dawn at 765-534-4222.