Page 21 - 2016 Autumn-Winter Issue

interest in someone apart from himself or herself. The As you can see, participating in a group has many healing
Compassionate Friends offers many opportunities for aspects. My hope is that this article will encourage you
service - some as simple as making snacks or setting to explore your story and to use these curative factors
up chairs. to inspire others to join a grief support group. The
Compassionate Friends recommends that you participate in
5. Development of Socializing Techniques – Monthly three meetings before making the decision about whether
group meetings, conferences and Internet groups or not the group is for you. The first one or two meetings
provide the opportunity to develop and maintain can be stressful, but over time you will find that sharing
relationships over time. Skills at handling emotions stories and meeting like-minded people will enhance the
can be learned by example and used to help healing process. Remember, we as humans are social beings
participants in their relationships with others. and grief is a journey you need not take alone.

6. Imitative Behavior – Watching how others respond God Bless,
to their loss can give members the opportunity to
experiment with their own behavior and find out who Dr. Gloria
they are, and who they are not. Behavior of group
members can teach skills that can be used in situations Dr. Gloria Horsley, MFC,
outside of the group. CNS, PhD, is the founder and
president of the Open to Hope
7. Group Cohesiveness – Over time, members begin to Foundation an internationally
feel the warmth and comfort of being part of a group. known grief expert, a
With the trauma of loss it is recommended that people psychotherapist, and bereaved
attend three sessions before leaving the group. parent. Gloria cohosts the
Internet radio show Open to
8. Catharsis – Group sharing provides the bereaved with Hope, at www.opentohope.
the opportunity to express deep emotional feelings. com, and has authored a
It can also be cathartic for other group members number of books and articles.
to witness someone dealing with an emotional
experience, as they can relate to it and grow by sitting
with them in their emotional release.

How I Found Hope ... © Alex_Po/Fotolia.com

After my 10-year-old son David died suddenly, my first instinct was
not about me or my wife, but to protect his younger sister Abby, and do
all I could to make sure his death would not ruin her life. My life was
about daily survival and caring for her soul. Little did I realize it was
her love, her joys, and her laughter that slowly allowed hope back into
my life, and opened my heart up again to a joyful future.

Bart Sumner, David’s dad

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