Settling the Storm: A Guide to Facilitating Grief Groups

By Saundra L. Washington D.D.

Technically, there are two types of grief groups. The informative/supportive grief groups’ purpose is to promote grief education and awareness. It covers grief and bereavement in a more didactic fashion.

The second type of grief group is therapeutic in nature. It is personal growth oriented groups focusing on facilitating the individual participant’s own personal loss process. Though many commonalities exist between these two types of groups each has its own unique dynamics and concerns. This book focuses on the second type of group, sometimes referred to as Grief Recovery Groups. I prefer the term “Grief Management.” I learned a long time ago that there is no recovery from grief precipitated by the loss of a beloved, but we can overcome.

Settling the Storm is particularly designed for all who are currently leading a group, who are thinking about facilitating a grief group in the future or would like to learn some additional skills or ideas in creating a grief group within a small gathering of people. It was created and organized to help Facilitators plan and facilitate grief groups. It takes off by inviting you to self assess readiness to lead grievers on the journey through grief, reviews the typical characteristics of effective Facilitators, and accentuates the vital skills necessary for ensuring positive outcomes.

The next chapter moves you on to a refresher glance at the anatomy of grief and bereavement by considering elements that influence grief; explores the categories of grief and discusses issues relative to grief of the elderly.

The third section focuses on the essentials for group preparation and helps you organize your thoughts and ideas about groups. The practical aspects of goals and objectives, and other information are included to provide you with an adequate blueprint for the implementation of your first group session.

The “Content of the Session” provides you with some thoughts and suggestions on what to do in your grief groups. In addition, setting up group guidelines, structuring cathartic activities and evaluating the group process are also covered.

You will be given tried and proven methodologies used to promote the emotional and spiritual well-being of grieving group members and fundamental tools needed for ensuring the best possible results. A grief group curriculum that can be used as a model is integrated into the overall presentation. Optional resources are appended.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Saundra L. Washington D.D.
• Release date: Apr 23, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458121455

Saundra L. Washington D.D.

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,Christian writing in particular is an expression of my passion to educate and inspire the body of Christ. I enjoy writing (and reading) and perhaps the clue that it was to play a vital role in my future can be traced to my love of writing as a child. Actually, it was not writing but scribbling (smile). I would scribble pages and pages and go show my masterpieces to my mother for her critique. She always complimented me on how wonderful my stories were and had me interpret the meaning from time to time. But, to be honest, I never contemplated writing beyond those childhood illusions and fantasies. God does indeed work His will into the lives of those committed to Him.So now, decades later, semi-retired from pastoral responsibilities, I felt the Holy Spirit's urging to write what I otherwise would probably be orally teaching or preaching.I believe you will find my eBooks interesting, spiritually strengthening, educative, informative, motivating and encouraging as you grow in your spiritual walk.You are encouraged to view samples from each eBook to get a “feel” for content.God bless you and thank you for surveying my eBooks and perusing this profile.All glory to God!

Book preview

Settling the Storm

A Guide to Facilitating Grief Groups

Saundra L. Washington D.D.

SMASHWORDS EDITION

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Settling the Storm

A Guide to Facilitating Grief Groups

Copyright 2011 by Saundra L. Washington

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Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. The NIV and New International Version trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica. Use of either trademark requires the permission of Biblica. The King James Version (KJV) is in U.S. public domain.

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Dedication

To the honor and glory of the Triune God

To wounded healers taking the fragile souls of the newly wounded and gently leading them to the Promised Land.

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Introduction

Technically, there are two types of grief groups. The informative/supportive grief groups’ purpose is to promote grief education and awareness. It covers grief and bereavement in a more didactic fashion.

The second type of grief group is therapeutic in nature. It is personal growth oriented groups focusing on facilitating the individual participant’s own personal loss process. Though many commonalities exist between these two types of groups each has its own unique dynamics and concerns. This book focuses on the second type of group, sometimes referred to as Grief Recovery Groups. I prefer the term Grief Management. I learned a long time ago that there is no recovery from grief precipitated by the loss of a beloved, but we can overcome.

Settling the Storm is particularly designed for all who are currently leading a group, who are thinking about facilitating a grief group in the future or would like to learn some additional skills or ideas in creating a grief group within a small gathering of people. It was created and organized to help Facilitators plan and facilitate grief groups. It takes off by inviting you to self assess readiness to lead grievers on the journey through grief, reviews the typical characteristics of effective Facilitators, and accentuates the vital skills necessary for ensuring positive outcomes.

The next chapter moves you on to a refresher glance at the anatomy of grief and bereavement by considering elements that influence grief; explores the categories of grief and discusses issues relative to grief of the elderly.

The third section focuses on the essentials for group preparation and helps you organize your thoughts and ideas about groups. The practical aspects of goals and objectives, and other information are included to provide you with an adequate blueprint for the implementation of your first group session.

The Content of the Session provides you with some thoughts and suggestions on what to do in your grief groups. In addition, setting up group guidelines, structuring cathartic activities and evaluating the group process are also covered.

You will be given tried and proven methodologies used to promote the emotional and spiritual well-being of grieving group members and fundamental tools needed for ensuring the best possible results. A grief group curriculum that can be used as a model is integrated into the overall presentation. Optional resources are appended.

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Our Brother’s Keeper

The precious life that is in you and me is the same in all of us.

Rich and poor, wise and simple, young and old,

We are joined together by a mystic oneness

Whose source we may never know, but whose

Reality we can never doubt

When one suffers, we all suffer.

When one hungers for bread, we all hunger.

When one tramps the streets in search of work, we all tramp the streets.

When one defrauds another person, we are all implicated.

When one destroys a human life, we all share the guilt.

When one attains the heart’s desire, we are all partners in the joy...

We are our brother’s keeper and our sister’s keeper,

For that brother or that sister is but

Our larger self....

The rest of the world is but our own self, writ large.

~ Excerpt from the writings of David Rhys Williams

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PART I

The Grief Group Facilitator

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Facilitator Self Awareness

Group facilitation to the bereaved requires an acute awareness of yourself and your own issues. Who you are as a person affects the way you interact with others and how you are able to render help. If you are not in tune with your own issues regarding death and dying, your work with grievers will be seriously compromised. Conversely, awareness of your own vulnerabilities can have a positive effect on your work with the bereaved and allow you to minimize possible adverse effects.

There are three areas you need to explore and give serious thought to:

1. Your background related to death

2. Your current personal issues related to grief and loss, and

3. Your motivation as a helper.

Your Personal Experience with Death

1. What was your first encounter with death? What were your feelings at the time? How did others respond to those feelings and needs?

2. How was the topic of death discussed in your family?

3. What is your memory of your first funeral? How were you prepared for the experience? What role did culture and religion play?

4. In what ways has your loss experience affected your life? How do you think it relates to your desiring to help others who have experienced a loss?

Your Response to Death and Dying Issues

1. What feelings are evoked when you hear someone talk about the death of a loved one?

2. What emotions do you feel when someone is crying uncontrollably? How do you respond?

3. How much personal reflection have you done relative to your own death? What have been your thoughts?

4. What has been most helpful to you as you worked through your own grief?

Your Motivation as a Group Facilitator

1. What is your motivation for wanting to help grievers in particular?

2. How do you differentiate between helping and hindering?

3. What will tell you that you may be confusing your own needs with those of grievers?

4. Why are you interested in being a grief group Facilitator?

5. Do you enjoy working with all types of people?

6. How high is your frustration level?

7. Do you know when to lead