First and foremost, please allow me to take the time to welcome you to this blog. No matter what path has led you to find the Center for Grief Therapy and Education, and this blog, we are so glad you did. Whether you are an avid reader of all things, a blogger, a mental health clinician, a fellow death and bereavement worker, a prospective or current client of the Center, or a loved one of a client, welcome.
This blog will be a living, breathing, dynamic record for the Center; a social and (hopefully) interactive way for us to speak to and learn from others. It may or may not turn out to be a great many things: perhaps a tribute to the work of the Center, a place for staff to share their knowledge, a way for the Center to help you think about things differently, or a medium by which you, our readers, can teach us and help us to learn what it is that you need.
While none of us can see the future, we at the Center certainly have hopes for our blog. In particular, we hope that our words can provide a few specific things to readers.
- Education
- Perspective
- Practices
And most importantly,
- Hope
Knowledge is power, or so they say. So, let us share that knowledge, teach you about new methods, research, or findings around grief and therapeutic practices.
The grass is not always greener on the other side – or is it? There are so many unique people in this world, and with that, just as many perspectives on all things “life.” While one person may stifle and swallow the urge to cry at a funeral, or remain tight lipped about going through a divorce, others may let their feelings flow freely, no matter the setting. Who is to say that either of these is the “right” way to approach loss? Perhaps we can let you in on other ways of looking at things – after all, life is better when we share.
Sometimes in life, we look for concrete answers where they may not exist. When grieving for example, one might wonder how long they will feel the way they feel, or if what they are experiencing is normal? More concretely, someone else may ask: Are there other things I can try that will help me to feel any better? While the answer to the latter is yes – and no – let us expound upon the yes. No one is born knowing how to cope with some of life’s most difficult things, but everyone can learn.
And lastly, what have we, if not hope? In the dark moments, it can be so hard to find that hope, that light, but it only takes a pinpoint, one ray, to make a difference. If you gain nothing else from reading along with us, may you know and feel that you are not alone. Maybe you are physically alone, mentally alone, or alone in your situation, but you are not alone in the human experience of grief and loss. You are not the first, nor will you be the last person to endure this, but we are here for you.
Let us help each other.
