Teacher Script: Healing Hearts

Introduction (5 minutes)

(Teacher): "Good morning/afternoon everyone. Thank you for being here today. We're going to talk about something that many of us experience at some point in our lives, but often find difficult to discuss: grief and loss."

"This space, our group right now, is a safe space. It's a place where we can explore big feelings, listen to each other, and learn together. There's no pressure to share anything you're not comfortable with, and everything shared in this group stays in this group. My main goal today is for you to know that it's okay to feel whatever you're feeling, and you are not alone."

(Display Healing Hearts: Coping With Loss Slide Deck - Slide 1)

"Take a look at our first slide: 'Welcome to Healing Hearts.' This is a space for understanding, coping, and healing. It’s okay to feel whatever you're feeling right now, and we're here to support each other."

(Display Healing Hearts: Coping With Loss Slide Deck - Slide 2)

"Our next slide asks, 'What is Grief? What is Loss?' When you hear those words, what comes to mind? Just think about it for a moment. Loss isn't always about someone passing away. It can be about a lot of different things, and grief is our natural human response to those losses."

Understanding Grief (10 minutes)

(Teacher): "Let's dive a bit deeper. Loss can take many forms. It could be the death of a family member or a beloved pet, but it can also be moving to a new school, the end of a friendship, changes in your family, or even losing a favorite toy or a routine that was important to you."

(Display Healing Hearts: Coping With Loss Slide Deck - Slide 3)

"As you can see on this slide, there are many 'Different Faces of Loss.' And just like loss comes in many forms, so does grief. Grief isn't just feeling sad. It can show up as anger, confusion, fear, guilt, numbness, or even, sometimes, relief. All of these feelings are a normal part of the grieving process."

"Can anyone share, without getting specific about a personal situation, what are some different types of loss you've seen or heard about that people experience? And what are some of the different feelings you think might come with those losses?" (Allow for a few general responses, gently guiding the discussion to avoid specific personal disclosures.)

(Display Healing Hearts: Coping With Loss Slide Deck - Slide 4)

"This slide reinforces that 'It's Okay to Feel.' There's no instruction manual for grief. Your feelings are valid, and everyone experiences grief differently. It can come in waves, where you feel okay one moment and then a wave of emotion hits you the next. And remember, you are not alone in these feelings."

"Now, I'm going to hand out your My Healing Heart Journal. We'll use this to think about our feelings and coping strategies in a private way."

Coping Strategies (10 minutes)

(Teacher): "Since grief is such a challenging experience, it's important to have healthy ways to cope. These are tools we can use to help us process our emotions and take care of ourselves."

(Display Healing Hearts: Coping With Loss Slide Deck - Slide 5)

"On this slide, 'Finding Your Way to Cope,' we see some healthy strategies. Things like talking to a trusted adult or friend, expressing yourself through art or writing – that's what we'll do in our journals – physical activity, remembering good times, practicing mindfulness, or even helping others. It’s about finding what works for you."

"In your My Healing Heart Journal, I want you to take a few minutes to think about these strategies. Which ones resonate with you? Are there any other healthy ways you already cope with difficult feelings? Write down at least two strategies you might try or continue to use. This is just for you, so be honest with yourself."

(Allow 5-7 minutes for students to write in their journals. Circulate quietly, offering support if needed.)

Wrap-Up and Support (5 minutes)

(Teacher): "Let's bring our thoughts back together. Thank you for engaging with this difficult but important topic. Remember, grief is a natural part of life, and it's okay to ask for help."

(Display Healing Hearts: Coping With Loss Slide Deck - Slide 6)

"As our last slide says, 'You Are Not Alone.' There are always people who care about you and want to support you – myself included. Healing is a process, not something that happens overnight, and you are strong enough to navigate it."

"If you ever feel overwhelmed or need someone to talk to, please know that you can talk to me, another trusted adult, or a school counselor. It takes courage to feel and to heal, and I'm proud of each of you for being here today."

"You can keep your My Healing Heart Journal and continue to use it whenever you need a space to reflect."

My Healing Heart Journal

This journal is a private space for you to explore your feelings about grief and loss. There are no right or wrong answers, just your honest thoughts and emotions.

1. What does "loss" mean to you?

Think about different kinds of loss, not just losing a person. It could be a pet, a friendship, a routine, or something else important.

2. When we experience loss, we feel many emotions. Beyond sadness, what other emotions might someone feel during grief? (Circle any that apply, or add your own!)

• Anger
• Confusion
• Fear
• Guilt
• Numbness
• Relief
• Frustration
• Loneliness
• Hope

• ---

• ---

Explain why you think it's normal to feel a mix of these emotions:

3. We discussed several coping strategies to help manage difficult feelings related to grief. From the list below, or your own ideas, write down at least two strategies you might try or continue to use when you are dealing with loss. Why are these strategies helpful to you?

• Talking to a trusted adult or friend.
• Expressing yourself through art or writing.
• Physical activity (walking, sports, dancing).
• Remembering good times or looking at photos.
• Practicing mindfulness or deep breathing.
• Helping others.
• Allowing yourself to feel the emotions.

Strategy 1:

Why it's helpful:

Strategy 2:

Why it's helpful:

4. What is one thing you learned today that you want to remember about grief and loss?