Grief Counseling
The Grief Recovery Method: The Action Program for Moving Beyond Loss
The Definition
Simply defined, grief is the normal and natural reaction to significant emotional loss of any kind. While we never compare losses, any list would include death and divorce as obvious and painful losses. The list would also include others, such as retirement, moving, pet loss, financial and health issues, etc.
The range of emotions associated with grief is as varied as there are people and personalities. There is no list of feelings that would adequately describe one person’s emotions, much less an entire society.
Grief is individual and unique. As every relationship is unique, so are the feelings and thoughts each person will have about the relationship that has been altered by death, divorce, or other reasons.
The Problem
While grief is normal and natural, most of the information in our culture about dealing with grief is not normal, natural, or helpful. Grief is the emotional response to loss, but most of the information we have learned about dealing with loss is intellectual.
The majority of incorrect ideas about dealing with loss can be summed up in six myths, which are so common that nearly everyone recognizes them. Most people have never questioned whether they are valid. The misinformation is best described in the following:
Six Myths
Just looking at the myth that “time heals” creates the idea that a person has to wait to feel better. Some people have waited 10, 20, 30, and 40 years and still don't feel better. And we know that they would tell you that not only had time not healed them, but that it had also compounded the pain. The other five myths carry equally unhelpful messages.
The Solution
Recovery from loss is accomplished by discovering and completing all the undelivered communications that accrue in relationships. We are often advised to “Let go” and “Move on” after losses of all kinds. Most of us would do that if we knew how.
Completion of pain caused by loss is what allows us to let go and move on. It is almost impossible to move on without first taking a series of actions that lead to completion.
Before taking the actions to complete them, it is important to look at and often dismiss some of the ideas or myths that we have tried to use with loss, but which are not working.
Correct Actions
The Grief Recovery Method provides the correct action choices that help people move beyond the pain caused by loss. I offer an eight-week program as well as individual sessions. This creates a safe environment in which to look at old beliefs and deal with loss, look at what losses have affected your life, and take new actions that lead to the completion of the pain attached to one of those losses.
The Grief Recovery Handbook: The Action Program for Moving Beyond Death, Divorce, and Other Losses, Including Health, Career, and Faith (released by Harper Collins in 2009), as well as an accompanying format, written by John W. James and Russell Friedman, founders of the Grief Recovery Institute, are used as texts for the outreach program.
43 Losses
43 losses can produce the range of emotions that we call grief.
The long list includes the following:
Grief is normal and natural, but many of the ideas we have been taught about dealing with grief are not helpful.
Moving Beyond Loss
If you have experienced one or more losses and wish to move beyond the pain, this program offers you the probability of a richer and more rewarding life.
Contact me today if you are ready to take the first step in moving past your loss.