-What Is a Grief Workshop?-

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A grief workshop consists of at least two sessions that are very interactive with the audience.  The first session identifies the different types of grief that we all go through at different times in our lives.   Some of the grief types identified are loss of a loved one, pet loss, loss of finances, loss of identity, lost dreams, and loss of a relationship. 

After grief identification, the next session talks about coping skills for getting through very specific times that are difficult when dealing with grief.  All of the first anniversaries are particularly difficult.  The first birthday, the first vacation, the first Mother’s Day, the first Father’s Day, the first Thanksgiving, and the first Christmas are just a few of the “firsts” that are discussed.  You will be given very practical ways to cope with grief.  In fact, some hands-on grief skills will be conducted at the workshop.

Following are two mini outlines of workshops offered by Clara Hinton:

Two-Session Workshop:

1. Who Am I Now?

        This one hour session identifies grief and deals with how to face the most difficult part of grief—accepting the reality of what has happened.

2. Will I Ever Feel Normal?

        Grief often leaves people feeling like life will never return to a sense of normalcy again.  This session gives the assurance that even though grief is a song that lasts a lifetime, it doesn’t have to be a sad song forever.  This session gives very practical grief coping skills to move one forward into the light of hope.

Four-Session Workshop:

1. Who Am I Now? 

        This one hour session identifies grief and deals with how to face the most difficult part of grief—accepting the reality of what has happened.

2. Will Spring Ever Arrive?

        This one hour session deals with coping with the reality of loss.  This goes into detail about the different ways grief touches the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual part of a person who is grieving.  Specific skills for coping are discussed in this session of the workshop.

3. How do I Get Through All of the Firsts?

        This one hour session spends time dealing with very practical suggestions for getting through the first month, the first year, the first anniversary, the first birthday, the first vacation, etc. .  The class will actually begin making a “grief coping calendar” in this session.

4. Will I Ever Feel Normal?

        Grief often leaves people feeling like life will never return to a sense of normalcy again.  This session gives the assurance that even though grief is a song that lasts a lifetime, it doesn’t have to be a sad song forever.  This session gives very practical grief coping skills to move one forward into the light of hope.

*Handouts are given at each session.

Grief resources will also be available for purchase at the workshop. 

Statistics prove that every person will experience at least three major grief issues in a lifetime—the kind that knocks you flat and leaves you not knowing how to get back up.  These workshops are designed to give you the skills you need to be prepared to identify grief and to use coping skills to get through any grief that enters your life.

Clara Hinton

Professional Speaker, Workshop Leader, Author

www.clarahinton.com