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Support Groups
Who benefits from a support group?
The support group will benefit adult family members whose loved one has died. Your grief is unique but there are common experiences among all that have suffered a loss through death. Only you know if you are ready to come to a support group. Some people want to wait until the initial "shock" of a loved one's death is past. This could be days, weeks, or months. Other family members are ready very soon after losing a loved one.
How a support group can help you
- A support group brings people together who have experienced similar loss.
- Each person can share experiences confidentially in a non-threatening place surrounded by those who have a personal understanding of grief.
- You will gain hope from people who will have gone through much of what you are going through now. You will be a source of hope to those who are beginning the journey of grief and may feel hopeless.
- Your grief will be accepted for what it is, a reaction to the trauma of loss, no matter how long ago the death occurred.
- It is not required that you explain or defend your grief, you are allowed to just talk about it for what it is.
- You are respected as you are trying in you own way to come to terms with your grief.
- It is a place to be heard, even if you want to talk about the same things over and over.
- We will want to hear about the person who died, what they were like, the good things and the bad things.
- We will be with you as you sort through all the mixed thoughts and feelings you have.
- We can help you to let go of the pain of loss without letting go of the person.
- We can provide general information about grief.
- Other group members may share suggestions on what has helped them in their grief.
- Together we can think about grief as a series of phases, as a process of change over time, leading us to a new and different life.
For more information contact Hospice at 308-696-7434
Support Groups:
First Friday Friends
A monthly group for those who have lost a loved one and whose primary needs are to spend time around others who have had a similar loss, seek personal development and learn to adjust to life without the person who died. This group meets the first Friday of the month at 12:00 at the GPRMC Education Conference Room at 600 E. Francis St. #8. Occasionally the location will change.
Writing Through Grief
Writing Through Grief is a group sponsored by Great Plains Hospice, for adults who have experienced a loss. Participants explore the experience of grief and loss through writing and sharing with others in a safe environment. They come together to write using prompts given by the facilitators. No writing experience is required. The emphasis is not on producing a product but it is an opportunity to express and heal through writing. Anyone who has experienced a loss, whether it is recent or years in the past, is encouraged to attend. For more information contact the group facilitators, Jacque Amweg 308-696-7918 or Cinda Falls 308-530-9272. Meetings will be the third Monday of each month from 7:00-8:30 at the First United Methodist Church, 1600 W. E Street in North Platte.
Note: For grief support after the death of a child of any age, please contact The Compassionate Friends at 308-534-5968. The mission of The Compassionate Friends is to assist families toward the positive resolution of grief following the death of a child of any age and to provide information to help others be supportive.
Classes:
Understanding Your Grief Journey
A four or six-week course, which focuses on the grief process and provides suggestions to help with this highly individual journey. Everyone experiences grief differently and there are many types of loss. Facilitator's provide a safe environment for support, learning and sharing in the grief experience. Offered in the Fall and Spring at North Platte Community College as one of the Adult Short Course listings and at other locations at various times during the year.
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