The Stepping Stones to Life After Loss

This 6-week support group is for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one.

Support Group Information (This is a co-ed group)

Day: Mondays (Beginning February 9, 2009. Registration will begin January 5, 2009.)
Time: 6:30-8:00 PM
Location: 1359 Broadway (between 36th St & 37th St), 4th floor
Cost: None, except the cost of the materials we are currently using.
Note: Before attending your first session, we ask that you acquaint yourself with the Group Rules. This is a closed group. Please register for this group.

Group Schedule

  • Stage 1 & 2: State of Shock & Express Emotion
  • Stage 3 & 4: Depression & Physical Symptoms
  • Stage 5 &6: Panic, Sense of Guilt and Loss
  • Stage 7 & 8: Anger & Resentment
  • Stage 9 & 10: Coming to Hope & Acceptance
  • Time of Reflection

Group Facilitator

William Jin

Reading Material

Good Grief by Granger E. Westberg

Behavioral Definitions

  1. Experience of the death of a loved person (parent, spouse, child, close friend).
  2. Losses (divorce, job termination, child leaving home) that significantly impact daily life.
  3. Feelings of sadness, problems with insomnia, weight loss, and other symptoms of depression resulting from the loss.
  4. Shock, disbelief, numbness, and confusion as part of the grief reaction.
  5. Difficulty focusing thoughts on anything but the loss.
  6. Feelings of guilt for being alive and not having done enough for (or not saving) the lost significant other.
  7. Guilt and shame over past misconduct, both real and imagined, that caused pain to the deceased.
  8. Conflict between parents over how each grieves the loss of a child.
  9. Avoidance of talking, except superficially, about the loss.
  10. Lack of interest in or willingness to participate in social or recreational activities that might bring (or once might have brought) pleasure.

Long Term Support Group Goals

  1. Begin and sustain a healthy emotional grieving process around the loss.
  2. Develop awareness of how the avoidance of grieving and the attempts to deny the loss has affected life.
  3. Complete the process of letting go of the lost significant other and the intense preoccupation with that loss.
  4. Accept the permanence of the loss and begin renewing old relationships, initiating contacts with others, and participating in pleasurable activities.
  5. Resolve feelings of guilt associated with the loss of the loved one.
  6. Gradually but steadily return to level of functioning that was normal previous to the loss.
  7. Develop control over emotional liability such that tearfulness is brief and less frequent or overwhelming.
  8. Resolve conflict with significant others over differing grief reactions.
  9. Learning to put our hope and trust in God of our compassion.

For more information or to register, contact supportgroups@redeemer.com.