Bereavement Support Group

JOURNEY THROUGH GRIEF
TO HOPE

Give sorrow words. The grief that does not speak
Whispers the o’erfraught heart, and bids it break.
William Shakespeare

Grieving takes time and we never get over a loss. We are changed forever in that experience. While we cannot go back to the way life was, we can, when we embrace our grief and mourning, move forward into life strengthened and emboldened with hope, to create a life that has meaning and purpose yet to be fulfilled.

If you have suffered the loss of a loved one and you would like to talk to others who have suffered similar losses, you can find support through our Journey Through Grief to Hope support groups which are offered 4 times annually. The groups are facilitated by Swedish Medical Center chaplains. This 7 week, closed group combines education and peer support in a confidential setting for those who have experienced the death of a loved one.

The Journey Through Grief to Hope groups will be held at First Hill Spiritual Care Office - 819 Boylston St., Tuesday evenings, 7:00-8:30 p.m. Call (206) 386-2082, to find out where the group will meet:

1. September 13 – October 25, 2011
2. November 1 – December 13, 2011
3. February 7 – March 20, 2012
4. April 3 – May 15, 2012

There is no charge for participation in this group. The Bereavement Support Group provides a space to share our grief with others who have also suffered loss, and to know that we are not alone in this oftentimes, frightening

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP TOPICS

WEEK #1:      Getting Acquainted/Sharing Stories
                            Expectations and Ground Rules

WEEK #2:      Understanding Grief as a Process:
                            The Stages of Grief

WEEK #3:      Normal Grief/Good Grief:
                            Living with the Extra Stress of Grief
                            Accepting and Expressing Feelings
                            Healthy Ways to Survive

WEEK #4:      Complicated Grief:
                            Recognizing Myself on a Spectrum
                            Different Kinds of Grief
                            (Traumatic, Chronic Disease, Suicide, etc.)
                            Breaking Self-Destructive Patterns

WEEK #5:      Grief Recovery I:
                            Coping with Role Changes
                            Coping with Social/Relational Changes
                            Remembrances
                            Anniversaries
                            Coping with Holidays

WEEK #6:      Growing Through Loss:
                            Reaching Acceptance
                            Getting Help when We Need It

WEEK #7:      Grief and Celebration:
                            Where Are We and Where Are We Going?
                             Loss and Community

While we cannot go back to the way life was, when we embrace our grief, we can move forward into life strengthened and emboldened with hope. We can create a life that has meaning and purpose yet to be fulfilled. 

Swedish Visiting Nurse Services offer several additional kinds of bereavement groups. Information can be found by clicking on this link: http://www.swedish.org/Services/Home-Care/Home-Care-Services/Bereavement-Services