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Grief's Journey: Healing Steps

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Lesson Plan

Grief's Journey: Healing Steps

To provide a structured and supportive environment for adults to understand, process, and navigate their grief, developing healthy coping mechanisms and fostering resilience.

Grief is a universal, yet deeply personal experience. This lesson is important because it validates the grieving process, equips individuals with tools to manage their emotions, and helps them move towards healing and integration of their loss.

Audience

Adults in a small group setting (Tier 2)

Time

6 sessions, 45 minutes each

Approach

Interactive discussions, guided reflections, and practical exercises over six sessions.

Materials

Prep

Review Materials and Set Up

30 minutes per session

Review all generated materials: Grief's Journey: Healing Steps Lesson Plan, Slide Decks, and Journals for each session. Prepare the meeting space to be comfortable and private for group discussion. Gather necessary supplies like markers and index cards. Ensure technology for the slide deck is ready.

Step 1

Session 1: Understanding Grief

45 minutes

Objective

  • Participants will be able to define grief and recognize its multifaceted nature.
  • Participants will understand that grief is a normal and individual response to loss.

Activities

  1. Welcome & Introductions (5 minutes)
    • Greet participants warmly. Establish group norms around respect, confidentiality, and active listening. Briefly introduce the purpose of the 6-session series.
  2. What is Grief? (10 minutes)
    • Use Session 1 Slide Deck: Understanding Grief to introduce the concept of grief beyond just sadness. Discuss physical, emotional, spiritual, and cognitive aspects. Ask: "What are some ways grief has shown up for you?" (physical, emotional, etc.)
  3. Types of Loss & Individual Experiences (15 minutes)
    • Facilitate a discussion on different types of loss (death, job, relationship, health, etc.). Emphasize that grief is not linear or uniform. Encourage sharing, reminding participants they can share as much or as little as they feel comfortable.
    • Teacher Note: Use active listening and validate all experiences.
  4. Journaling & Reflection (10 minutes)
  5. Closing & Preview (5 minutes)
    • Invite participants to share one word that describes how they feel after this session. Reiterate that their feelings are valid. Briefly introduce the topic for Session 2. Thank them for their presence and courage.

Step 2

Session 2: The Five Stages of Grief

45 minutes

Objective

  • Participants will identify and understand the five stages of grief (Kubler-Ross model).
  • Participants will recognize that these stages are not linear and can be experienced in any order or combination.

Activities

  1. Welcome & Check-in (5 minutes)
    • Welcome participants back. Briefly check in: "How are you feeling after our last session? Any thoughts or reflections you'd like to share?"
  2. Introducing the Stages (15 minutes)
    • Use Session 2 Slide Deck: The Five Stages to introduce the Kubler-Ross model: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance. Emphasize that these are not rigid steps, but common emotional responses.
    • Provide simple, relatable examples for each stage.
  3. Group Discussion: Personal Connections (15 minutes)
    • Facilitate a discussion asking participants if they recognize any of these stages in their own grief journey. Encourage them to share how a particular stage manifested for them, rather than what caused it, to maintain a focus on their internal experience.
    • Teacher Note: Normalize the experience of feeling multiple stages at once or revisiting stages.
  4. Journaling: Reflecting on Stages (5 minutes)
  5. Closing (5 minutes)
    • Summarize key takeaways: grief is unique, stages are common but not linear. Thank them and give a brief preview of Session 3.

Step 3

Session 3: Healthy Coping Strategies

45 minutes

Objective

  • Participants will identify and explore various healthy coping mechanisms for managing grief.
  • Participants will begin to develop a personal toolkit of strategies to use during their grief journey.

Activities

  1. Warm-up: Coping Share (5 minutes)
    • Start by asking participants: "What's one thing you do, even a small thing, that helps you feel a little bit better on a tough day?" Briefly share some common, healthy coping strategies.
  2. Exploring Coping Strategies (15 minutes)
    • Use Session 3 Slide Deck: Coping Strategies to present a range of healthy coping mechanisms (e.g., mindfulness, exercise, creative expression, seeking support, setting boundaries, self-compassion, nature). Discuss the benefits of each.
  3. Interactive Activity: My Coping Toolkit (15 minutes)
    • Provide index cards or small slips of paper. Ask participants to write down 2-3 coping strategies they already use or want to try. They can share if comfortable, explaining why it's helpful or appealing.
    • Teacher Note: Focus on practical, actionable strategies. Emphasize that different strategies work for different people and at different times.
  4. Journaling: Building My Toolkit (5 minutes)
  5. Closing (5 minutes)
    • Encourage participants to try one new coping strategy before the next session. Thank them and preview Session 4.

Step 4

Session 4: Remembering and Honoring

45 minutes

Objective

  • Participants will explore meaningful ways to remember and honor their loved ones or past experiences.
  • Participants will understand the importance of integrating loss into their lives rather than trying to 'get over' it.

Activities

  1. Opening Reflection: What brings comfort? (5 minutes)
    • Ask: "Sometimes, remembering happy moments can be bittersweet. What’s one positive memory or quality you cherish related to your loss?"
  2. Ways to Remember and Honor (15 minutes)
    • Use Session 4 Slide Deck: Remembering & Honoring to discuss various ways people honor their losses (e.g., creating a memorial, sharing stories, continuing traditions, supporting causes, journaling, art). Explain that honoring can be active or reflective.
  3. Group Sharing: Creating a Legacy (15 minutes)
    • Invite participants to share ideas for how they might like to remember or honor their loss. This could be something they already do, something new, or something they've thought about. Encourage creativity and personal meaning.
    • Teacher Note: Be sensitive to varying comfort levels with sharing. Provide examples if the group is hesitant.
  4. Journaling: Legacy of Love (5 minutes)
  5. Closing (5 minutes)
    • Reinforce that grief can coexist with love and memory. Thank them and preview Session 5.

Step 5

Session 5: Navigating Special Occasions and Milestones

45 minutes

Objective

  • Participants will identify the challenges of special occasions and milestones during grief.
  • Participants will develop strategies for preparing for and navigating these difficult times.

Activities

  1. Warm-up: Anticipating Challenges (5 minutes)
    • Ask: "What upcoming dates or events (holidays, birthdays, anniversaries) feel particularly challenging or heavy for you?" Discuss the natural increase in grief during these times.
  2. Strategies for Milestones (15 minutes)
    • Use Session 5 Slide Deck: Navigating Milestones to present practical strategies for navigating special occasions (e.g., planning ahead, adjusting expectations, seeking support, creating new traditions, allowing space for all emotions, communicating needs).
  3. Role-Playing/Scenario Discussion (15 minutes)
    • Present a few hypothetical scenarios (e.g., attending a family holiday, a friend asking about plans for a difficult anniversary). In pairs or small groups, have participants discuss how they might apply the strategies learned. Share insights with the larger group.
    • Teacher Note: Keep scenarios general and focus on strategy application. Avoid personal details.
  4. Journaling: Facing the Future (5 minutes)
  5. Closing (5 minutes)
    • Emphasize self-compassion and the importance of having a plan. Thank them and preview the final session.

Step 6

Session 6: Moving Forward with Hope and Resilience

45 minutes

Objective

  • Participants will reflect on their grief journey and recognize their growth and resilience.
  • Participants will identify resources and maintain self-care practices moving forward.

Activities

  1. Opening Reflection: My Journey (10 minutes)
    • Ask: "Looking back over these sessions, what is one insight you've gained or one shift you've noticed in your understanding of your grief?" Share briefly as a group.
  2. Building Resilience and Finding Hope (15 minutes)
    • Use Session 6 Slide Deck: Moving Forward with Hope to discuss resilience – not bouncing back, but growing through. Talk about finding meaning, purpose, and hope while acknowledging continued grief. Highlight the importance of self-care and ongoing support.
  3. Resource Sharing & Future Support (10 minutes)
    • Discuss the importance of continued support. Share local or online grief resources (books, support groups, counseling). Encourage participants to think about their personal support network.
  4. Journaling: My Healing Path (5 minutes)
  5. Closing & Farewell (5 minutes)
    • Thank everyone for their courage and participation. Affirm their journey and the strength they've shown. Offer a final thought on the ongoing nature of healing.
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Slide Deck

Welcome to Our Journey

Understanding Grief Together

  • A safe space for shared experiences
  • Respect and confidentiality are key
  • Your feelings are valid and welcome
  • This is your journey, at your own pace

Let's begin.

Welcome everyone. Set a calm and respectful tone. Introduce the purpose of the session and the overall series. Emphasize confidentiality within the group.

What is Grief?

More Than Just Sadness

  • Grief: The natural response to loss.
  • It's a complex set of emotions and physical reactions.
  • Not just about death, but any significant loss (job, relationship, health, dreams).

Prompt: What comes to mind when you hear the word 'grief'? Listen to initial thoughts and validate them. Explain that grief is more than just sadness.

The Many Faces of Grief

How Grief Shows Up

  • Emotional: Sadness, anger, guilt, anxiety, loneliness, relief.
  • Physical: Fatigue, changes in sleep/appetite, aches, heaviness.
  • Cognitive: Difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, preoccupation.
  • Spiritual: Questioning beliefs, searching for meaning.

Discuss how grief can manifest. Ask for examples in a gentle way: 'Has anyone experienced physical sensations with grief? How about changes in thinking?'

Loss Comes in Many Forms

Beyond Bereavement

  • Loss of a loved one (person, pet)
  • Loss of a relationship (divorce, friendship)
  • Loss of a job or career
  • Loss of health or physical ability
  • Loss of a dream or expectation
  • Loss of safety or security

Encourage group members to think about different types of loss, moving beyond just death. Reinforce that all forms of loss are valid reasons for grief.

Grief is Personal

Your Unique Journey

  • There's no timeline for grief.
  • No two people grieve exactly alike.
  • It's not a linear process; it can feel like waves.
  • Your experience is valid, whatever it looks like.

Explain that there's no 'right' way to grieve. It's a personal journey. Encourage empathy and understanding within the group.

Time for Reflection

Journaling Our Thoughts

  • A quiet moment to process what we've discussed.
  • Reflect on how grief shows up for you.
  • Consider the types of loss you've experienced.
  • There's no right or wrong answer.

Transition to the journal activity. Explain that journaling is a tool for self-reflection and processing. Give instructions for the journal and quiet time for writing.

Until Next Time...

Key Takeaways

  • Grief is a natural and complex response to loss.
  • It manifests in many ways: emotional, physical, cognitive, spiritual.
  • Loss comes in various forms, and all are valid.
  • Your grief journey is unique.

Next session: The Five Stages of Grief

Bring the session to a close. Thank everyone for their participation and courage. Briefly mention the topic for the next session.

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Journal

Session 1 Journal: My Initial Thoughts

Take a few moments to reflect on today's discussion about grief. There are no right or wrong answers, just your personal thoughts and feelings.

  1. What does the word "grief" mean to you, personally? How has your understanding of grief changed or expanded after today's session?






  2. In what ways have you experienced grief (emotional, physical, cognitive, spiritual)? Describe one way it has shown up for you.






  3. Think about a significant loss you've experienced. How did it affect different areas of your life? (e.g., daily routines, relationships, sense of self)











  4. What is one question you have about grief or the grieving process that you hope to explore in these sessions?



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Slide Deck

Welcome Back: Our Healing Path Continues

Reflecting on Our Journey

  • Brief check-in: How are you feeling today?
  • Any thoughts or insights from our last session on understanding grief?

Today: Exploring the Five Stages of Grief.

Welcome back the participants. Start with a brief check-in to see how they're feeling after Session 1 and if any reflections have come up.

Introducing The Five Stages of Grief

From Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

  • A framework to understand common emotional responses.
  • Important: These are not linear steps.
  • You may experience them in any order, revisit stages, or not experience all of them.

Introduce Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and the concept of the five stages. Emphasize immediately that these are not rigid steps.

1. Denial: 'This Can't Be Happening'

A Common First Reaction

  • Difficulty accepting the reality of the loss.
  • A temporary defense mechanism.
  • Can manifest as shock, numbness, or disbelief.
  • Helps us cope with overwhelming pain initially.

Explain Denial. Give a brief, relatable example of how denial might manifest in grief.

2. Anger: 'Why Me? It's Not Fair!'

A Powerful Emotion

  • Can be directed at oneself, others, the deceased, doctors, God, or life itself.
  • Often a way to release intense pain.
  • It signals that we are feeling, rather than suppressing.

Explain Anger. Discuss that anger can be directed at many things or people.

3. Bargaining: 'If Only... What If...'

Attempts to Regain Control

  • A negotiation with a higher power or destiny.
  • Thoughts like: "If only I had..." or "What if I did...?"
  • Often accompanied by guilt or a desperate hope to change the outcome.

Explain Bargaining. Focus on the 'if only' and 'what if' thoughts.

4. Depression: 'I'm So Sad, What's the Point?'

The Depth of Sadness

  • Profound sadness, emptiness, and despair.
  • Withdrawal, lack of energy, loss of interest.
  • A natural and necessary part of processing the magnitude of loss.
  • It's a step towards accepting the reality.

Explain Depression. Differentiate it from clinical depression, focusing on the natural sadness of grief.

5. Acceptance: 'It Happened, And I Can Live With This'

Finding a Way Forward

  • Not about being "okay" with the loss, but accepting its reality.
  • Integrating the loss into your life.
  • Finding a way to live and move forward with the reality of what happened.
  • May involve finding new meaning or rebuilding your life.

Explain Acceptance. Clarify that it doesn't mean being 'okay' with the loss, but accepting its reality and finding a way to live with it. This is about integrating the loss into your life, not getting over it. Mention that finding meaning and hope can coexist with sadness.

Key Takeaways & Looking Ahead

Key Takeaways

  • The Five Stages offer a common language for grief.
  • They are not linear; you can move back and forth between them.
  • Your experience is unique and valid.
  • Understanding these stages can help normalize your feelings.

Next session: Healthy Coping Strategies

Recap the main points: Stages are a guide, not a rulebook. Grief is messy and cyclical. All feelings are valid. Preview next session on coping strategies.

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Journal

Session 2 Journal: Reflecting on Stages

Today, we explored the five stages of grief. Remember, these are common reactions and not a strict progression. Reflect on your own experience:

  1. Which of the five stages (Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance) resonate most with you right now, or have resonated strongly in the past?






  2. Describe a time when you experienced one of these stages. What did it feel like? How did it manifest for you?











  3. Do you find yourself moving back and forth between stages, or feeling multiple stages at once? What does that experience feel like?






  4. What is one new insight you gained today about your own grief journey by learning about these stages?



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Slide Deck

Welcome Back: Our Toolkit Grows

Quick Check-in

  • What's one thing you do, even a small thing, that helps you feel a little bit better on a tough day?

Today: Building Your Coping Strategies Toolkit

Welcome everyone. Start with a brief warm-up asking about what small things help on tough days. This will lead into the topic of coping strategies.

What Are Coping Strategies?

Managing Grief's Waves

  • Coping Strategies: Actions we take to manage stress, emotions, and difficult situations.
  • Not about 'fixing' grief, but about navigating it.
  • We'll focus on healthy strategies that support long-term well-being.

Define coping mechanisms and distinguish between healthy and unhealthy ones. Emphasize that we will focus on healthy, constructive ways to manage grief.

Emotional Coping: Feeling It

Acknowledging Your Emotions

  • Journaling: Writing down thoughts and feelings.
  • Talking: Sharing with trusted friends, family, or a therapist.
  • Creative Expression: Art, music, poetry, dance to express what words cannot.
  • Mindfulness/Meditation: Observing emotions without judgment.

Introduce emotional coping. Explain that acknowledging and expressing emotions is crucial. Provide examples and encourage discussion.

Physical Coping: Caring For Your Body

Nurturing Your Physical Self

  • Movement: Gentle exercise, walking, yoga.
  • Sleep: Prioritizing rest, maintaining a sleep routine.
  • Nutrition: Eating nourishing foods.
  • Relaxation Techniques: Deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation.

Introduce physical coping. Explain the link between physical well-being and emotional health. Emphasize gentle movement and self-care.

Social Coping: Connecting With Others

The Power of Connection

  • Seeking Support: Leaning on friends, family, support groups.
  • Setting Boundaries: Knowing when to say no to social engagements.
  • Sharing Stories: Remembering and celebrating together.
  • Acts of Service: Helping others, finding purpose.

Introduce social coping. Discuss the importance of connection and how to ask for and receive support. Also, emphasize setting boundaries.

Spiritual Coping: Finding Meaning

Connecting to Something Greater

  • Spiritual Practices: Prayer, meditation, connecting with nature.
  • Finding Meaning: How can you honor the loss through action or purpose?
  • Reflection: Thinking about values, life lessons, legacy.

Introduce spiritual/meaning-making coping. Explain that finding meaning or connecting with beliefs can be a source of comfort.

Activity: My Coping Toolkit

What Works for YOU?

  • Grief is personal, and so is coping.
  • Think about the strategies we discussed (or others you know).
  • Identify 2-3 strategies you want to try or incorporate more regularly.
  • There's no 'one size fits all' solution.

Introduce the 'My Coping Toolkit' activity. Explain that participants will identify strategies they want to try or already use. Encourage sharing if comfortable.

Key Takeaways & Looking Ahead

Your Journey, Your Tools

  • Many healthy ways to cope with grief.
  • Experiment to find what works best for you.
  • It's okay to ask for help and to lean on others.
  • Be patient and compassionate with yourself.

Next Session: Remembering and Honoring Our Losses

Summarize the session. Reinforce that building a coping toolkit is an ongoing process and self-compassion is key. Preview the next session.

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Journal

Session 3 Journal: My Coping Toolkit

Today, we discussed a variety of healthy coping strategies for grief. Use this space to reflect on which strategies resonate with you and how you might incorporate them into your life.

  1. List 3-5 coping strategies that you currently use when you are feeling overwhelmed or sad. How do these strategies help you?











  2. From the strategies discussed today (or any others you know), what are 2-3 new strategies you would like to try? What makes them appealing to you?











  3. Think about one specific moment in the coming week where you anticipate feeling grief. Which coping strategy will you intentionally use to support yourself?






  4. How can you remind yourself to be patient and compassionate with your own grieving and coping process?



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Slide Deck

Welcome Back: Honoring Our Stories

Cherishing What Remains

  • What's one positive memory or quality you cherish related to your loss?

Today: Exploring ways to remember and honor.

Welcome back the participants. Start with a brief reflection on cherishing positive memories related to their loss. This sets a gentle tone for the session.

Why Remember and Honor?

Integrating Loss into Life

  • Grief isn't about getting over someone or something.
  • It's about finding a way to live with the absence.
  • Honoring helps us keep the connection alive in new ways.
  • It allows us to carry love forward.

Explain that remembering and honoring are active steps in grief, helping integrate the loss rather than trying to forget it.

Ways to Keep Their Memory Alive

Personal and Meaningful Gestures

  • Sharing Stories: Talking about memories, sharing anecdotes.
  • Creating a Memorial: A photo album, a special item, a dedicated space.
  • Continuing Traditions: Observing holidays or special days in a meaningful way.
  • Supporting a Cause: Donating time or money to a charity in their name.

Introduce various ways to remember. Encourage participants to think broadly about what feels meaningful to them.

Active Honoring and Connection

Through Action and Creativity

  • Journaling: Writing letters, memories, or reflections.
  • Creative Expression: Art, music, poetry inspired by the loss.
  • Planting a Tree/Garden: A living memorial.
  • Acts of Kindness: Carrying forward their values or spirit.
  • Visiting a Special Place: A place that holds significance.

Continue with more active and creative ways to honor. Emphasize that these actions can bring comfort and a sense of continued connection.

Activity: Creating a Legacy

What Does Honoring Look Like for You?

  • What ways of remembering resonate with you?
  • Are there new ways you'd like to honor your loss?
  • How can you create a lasting legacy for your loved one or experience?

Facilitate a group discussion. Invite participants to share their own ideas for honoring their loss. Stress that there's no right or wrong way.

Journaling: Legacy of Love

Time for Personal Reflection

  • Think about the discussion on remembering and honoring.
  • What personal meaning can you draw from these ideas?
  • How might you carry forward the essence of what you lost?

Transition to the journal activity, explaining its purpose for deeper personal reflection.

Key Takeaways & Moving Forward

Carrying Love Forward

  • Remembering and honoring are vital for healing.
  • There are countless personal ways to keep a connection.
  • Grief and love can coexist.

Next Session: Navigating Special Occasions and Milestones

Summarize the session, reinforcing that grief and love can coexist. Preview the next session.

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Journal

Session 4 Journal: Legacy of Love

Today we explored different ways to remember and honor our losses. This practice helps us integrate the loss into our lives and carry love forward.

  1. What are some ways you already remember or honor your loss (a person, an experience, etc.)?






  2. From the ideas discussed today, or new ideas that came to mind, what is one new way you would like to remember or honor your loss?






  3. Think about the qualities, values, or lessons associated with your loss. How might you carry these forward in your own life or through acts of kindness?











  4. How does the idea of 'carrying love forward' or 'integrating loss' resonate with you, compared to 'getting over' grief?



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Slide Deck

Welcome Back: Preparing for Milestones

Anticipating the Tides

  • What upcoming dates or events (holidays, birthdays, anniversaries) feel particularly challenging for you?

Today: Strategies for navigating special occasions.

Welcome back participants. Start with a warm-up asking about upcoming challenging dates to naturally lead into the session's topic.

Milestones and Grief

Why Are These Dates So Hard?

  • Anniversaries: Reminders of the loss.
  • Birthdays: Celebrating a life, acknowledging absence.
  • Holidays: Often associated with family, joy, and traditions.
  • "Firsts": First holiday, birthday, etc., without the person/experience.

These dates can amplify feelings of sadness, loneliness, or anger.

Acknowledge that certain dates can intensify grief. Validate these feelings as normal and expected.

Strategy 1: Plan Ahead

Don't Wait Until the Last Minute

  • Identify Challenging Dates: Mark them on a calendar.
  • Reflect on Your Feelings: How do you anticipate feeling?
  • Think About What You Need: Solitude, company, distraction?
  • Communicate Your Needs: Let others know your plan.

Introduce the idea of planning ahead as a key strategy. Emphasize that having a plan, even if it changes, can reduce anxiety.

Strategy 2: Adjust Expectations

It's Okay for Things to Be Different

  • Let Go of "Shoulds": There's no right or wrong way to observe these dates.
  • Allow for Change: New traditions can be created.
  • Accept All Emotions: It's normal to feel a mix of joy and sadness.
  • Prioritize Your Well-being: Don't push yourself if you're not ready.

Discuss adjusting expectations. It's okay if things are different. Encourage self-compassion.

Strategy 3: Seek Support or Create Your Own Way

You Don't Have to Do It Alone

  • Lean on Your Support System: Friends, family, group members.
  • Consider a Quiet Day: It's okay to opt for a low-key observance.
  • Create a New Ritual: Something that honors your loss but is new.
  • Take Breaks: Step away if you feel overwhelmed during an event.

Emphasize the importance of support and the choice to seek it or create a new path.

Activity: Applying Our Strategies

Scenario Discussion

  • Imagine an upcoming challenging date.
  • Which strategies would you use to prepare?
  • How would you communicate your needs to others?
  • What self-compassion steps would you take?

Guide participants through a scenario discussion, focusing on applying the strategies learned. Keep scenarios general.

Journaling: Facing the Future

Personalize Your Plan

  • Think about one upcoming milestone.
  • What specific strategy or strategies will you plan to use?
  • How will you be kind to yourself during this time?

Transition to the journal activity, prompting deeper personal reflection on an upcoming milestone and chosen strategies.

Key Takeaways & Looking Ahead

Navigate with Compassion

  • Special occasions are often difficult during grief.
  • Planning ahead, adjusting expectations, and seeking support are key.
  • Be kind and patient with yourself.

Next Session: Moving Forward with Hope and Resilience

Summarize the session. Reiterate the importance of planning and self-compassion. Preview the final session on resilience and moving forward.

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Journal

Session 5 Journal: Facing the Future

Today, we discussed strategies for navigating special occasions and milestones while grieving. This journal is a space to plan and reflect on how you will approach these challenging times.

  1. Identify one or two upcoming dates or events that you anticipate will be particularly challenging. What feelings or thoughts do these dates bring up for you?






  2. From the strategies we discussed (planning ahead, adjusting expectations, seeking support/creating your own way), choose one or two that you feel would be most helpful for you. How will you apply them?











  3. How can you communicate your needs or preferences to family and friends regarding this upcoming event? What might you say?






  4. What is one act of self-compassion you can commit to for yourself during this challenging time?



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Slide Deck

Welcome: Reflecting on Our Journey

Our Shared Path

  • What is one insight you've gained or one shift you've noticed in your understanding of your grief?

Today: Moving Forward with Hope and Resilience.

Welcome participants to the final session. Start with an opening reflection, inviting them to share one insight or shift they've noticed in their grief journey over the course of these sessions.

Resilience: Growing Through Grief

What is Resilience in Grief?

  • It's not about bouncing back to how you were before.
  • It's about growing through the experience.
  • Finding strength and new ways of being.
  • Learning to carry your grief alongside life.

Define resilience in the context of grief, clarifying it's not about 'bouncing back' but 'growing through.' Emphasize that resilience allows for continued sadness while finding strength.

Finding Meaning and Purpose

Purpose in the Pain?

  • Finding meaning: How has this experience shaped your values?
  • New perspectives: What have you learned about yourself or life?
  • Legacy through action: Continuing a loved one's work, starting something new.
  • Finding hope: Not denying sadness, but seeing possibilities for the future.

Discuss how finding meaning can contribute to healing. Provide examples and encourage personal reflection on how their loss might lead to new purpose or understanding.

Sustaining Your Well-being

Your Ongoing Healing Path

  • Self-care is not selfish: It's essential.
  • Continue coping strategies: Keep building your toolkit.
  • Support networks: Friends, family, other groups.
  • Professional help: Therapists, counselors, grief specialists.
  • Mindfulness & Reflection: Staying connected to your inner experience.

Emphasize the ongoing nature of self-care and support. Discuss different types of resources available and encourage participants to identify their personal support network.

Activity: My Future Support Plan

Building a Bridge Forward

  • What resources will you use for ongoing support?
  • What self-care practices will you commit to?
  • Who in your network can you lean on?
  • What is one step you will take this week to support your healing?

Facilitate a discussion about identifying resources and how participants plan to continue their self-care and healing journey after the group concludes.

Journaling: My Healing Path

A Personal Commitment

  • Take a moment to write down your intentions.
  • What does moving forward with hope mean for you?
  • How will you continue to honor your journey?

Transition to the final journal activity, prompting a commitment to their healing path.

Farewell & Until We Meet Again

Your Journey Continues

  • Thank you for sharing this space and your stories.
  • Remember your strength and resilience.
  • Your grief is a testament to your love.
  • May you find peace and continued healing.

Offer a heartfelt closing. Thank everyone for their courage and participation. Affirm their individual journeys and the strength they've shown. Offer a final thought on the ongoing nature of healing and the power of connection.

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Journal

Session 6 Journal: My Healing Path

As our sessions conclude, take this time to reflect on your grief journey, acknowledge your growth, and consider your path forward with hope and resilience.

  1. Looking back on these six sessions, what is the most significant insight or understanding you have gained about your own grief?






  2. Identify one or two strengths or acts of resilience you have discovered within yourself during your grieving process.






  3. What are 2-3 specific self-care practices or coping strategies you will commit to continuing as you move forward?






  4. Who are the key people or resources in your support network that you can rely on for ongoing help? How will you reach out to them if needed?






  5. Write a brief message to yourself about your continued healing journey, reminding yourself of your strength and the validity of your feelings.











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