The Understanding Your Grief Support Group Guide

by Alan Wolfelt

Overview

When we're grieving the death of someone loved, we need the support and compassion of our fellow human beings. Grief support groups provide a wonderful opportunity for this very healing kind of support. This book is for professional or lay caregivers who want to start and lead an effective grief support group for adults. It explains how to get a group started and how to keep it running smoothly once it's underway. The group leader's roles and responsibilities are explored in detail, including communication skills, trust building, handling problems, and more. This Guide also includes twelve meeting plans that interface with the second editions of Understanding Your Grief and The Understanding Your Grief Journal. Each week group members read a chapter in the main text, complete a chapter in the journal, and come to group ready for you to guide them through an exploration of the content. Meeting plans include suggestions for how to open each session as well as engaging exercises and activities. A Certificate of Completion you can photocopy and give to group members in the final meeting is provided.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781617223129
Publisher:	Companion Press
Publication date:	09/01/2021
Sold by:	INDEPENDENT PUB GROUP - EPUB - EBKS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	112
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Dr. Alan Wolfelt, has been recognized as one of North America's leading death educators and grief counselors. His books have sold more than a million copies worldwide and have been translated into many languages. He is known around the world for his compassionate messages of hope and healing as well as his companioning philosophy of grief care. Dr. Wolfelt speaks on grief-related topics, offers trainings for caregivers, and has written many bestselling books and other resources on grief for both caregivers and grieving people.

Table of Contents

Introduction

In Gratitude to the Grief Support Group Facilitator 1

Journeying Through Grief

The Role of Support Groups 9

Getting Started

The Nuts and Bolts 13

Leadership Roles 31

Summary of Grief Group Support Skills 38

The Support Group's Developmental Phases 45

Planning Your Meetings

The Understanding Your Grief Model 53

Responding to Problems in the Group 95

The Six Needs of Mourning

Evaluating Your Group's Progress 105

Support Group Member Evaluation Form 110

Support Group Leader Evaluation Form 112

Putting Yourself First

Caring for the Caregiver 115

A Self-Care Manifesto for Bereavement Caregivers 127

A Final Word 129

Selected Reading List 131