Grief Group Offers Support to Students
News
December 10, 2012 | 7:53 a.m.
By Mark Van Dusseldorp '14
A new grief support group will begin after Christmas break, and any student grieving the death of a loved one is welcome to join. The group will provide a safe and confidential space for students to share stories and thoughts about the grieving process. Christina Gill, counseling intern and grief group leader, says, “The point of the group is to assure students that they are not alone, that grieving is okay, and even healthy.”
The group will include 8-10 students, who will meet weekly for 50 minutes at Bethel’s Counseling Center. The group runs for six weeks, but if the need arises, it will continue meeting as long as the students want. The first 8-10 students to sign up will be assigned to the first group, and Gill will start a second group for any additional students.
Gill says that group counseling is oftentimes more beneficial than individual counseling because students become aware of how others manage their loss. “Students will have the chance to learn from each other and build support,” she says. The group will discuss handouts that include poems, activities, and prayers that address grief and help students cope.
Students interested in more information or in joining the group should contact Christina Gill and specify the type of loss they have experienced. A specific start date will be decided once enough students have signed up.