by Kyle Wells reporter@prpeak.com Grief is something that enters all of our lives at some point and there’s no shame in searching out a little help to get through it.
That’s the message Linda de Vries and Powell River Community Health Hospice Program are sending out as they invite people to sign up for the Journey Through Grief workshop. The program of six sessions held over six weeks will bring people together who need a helping hand understanding the grieving process and who would find comfort in discussing bereavement in a group setting.
De Vries is a nurse with the Hospice Program and a grief counsellor who works with people who are dying and their families. She also works as a counsellor with people after the loss of a loved one has occurred, both one-on-one and, with this workshop, in a group setting. She has been running the workshop for 13 years.
There is a certain amount of unhealthy stigma that surrounds the act of grieving, according to de Vries. She believes the level of exposure to violence in our society desensitizes people to the reality of the pain of loss and that people underestimate the power and process of grieving.
“I don’t like the use of the word ‘closure,’” said de Vries. “Every time I hear it I try and correct people because there is never an end to grieving, it’s a case of integrating it.”
The workshop is designed to help those suffering from loss find a deeper understanding of what they are going through and to realize that they are not alone. The group situation is not for everyone, according to de Vries, but for some being with others helps them validate their feelings and stop judging themselves for having difficulty coping.
“I have had many, many people tell me that they think they’re going crazy,” said de Vries. “Really all they’re doing is grieving. It’s just a normal response.”
De Vries said that people will simply know whether the program will work for them or whether they would be better suited to one-on-one counselling. The workshop is open to people of any age who have lost someone, whether it be a partner, parent, family member or friend. There are no expectations on participants to share and the focus of the program is learning about the grieving process.
The workshop will bring together a minimum of six people and a maximum of 12. De Vries says she has never received a negative evaluation from participants and has seen many people come a long way through their grief over the course of the program.
The workshop will take place for two hours every Wednesday evening, starting October 19, at the community health department of Powell River General Hospital. Pre-registration is required, which involves a screening process for eligibility. For more information or to register readers can call 604.485.3310.
