Tuesday, October 06, 2009
CHARLOTTE, NC-- Tricia Gardner is a chaplain at Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville. When her mom died unexpectedly, Tricia realized that she, too, needed the same grief support that she routinely delivers to families who suffer from a loss of a loved one. Through guidance she received from Presbyterian Hospice & Palliative Care’s bereavement program, Tricia was able to begin the healing process.
“Grief is not an event, it is a process,” said Gardner, who has served as the hospital’s chaplain in Huntersville for the past three years. “The sessions really helped me normalize something that did not feel normal.”
Bereavement counseling services are available to anyone, even if a person’s loved one was not a patient at Presbyterian Hospital or with the hospital’s hospice program. People can opt for one-on-one counseling or a support group. “The support group sessions are not depressing or sad, rather everyone encourages one another; we are hope focused,” said Beverly Stoner, MSW, LCSW, Presbyterian Hospice & Palliative Care’s supervisor of patient and family support services. “Group members really bond with one another. It’s a great place for people not to feel isolated.”
Facilitated by trained and experienced bereavement counselors, support groups are “open groups,” meaning participants can attend on an as needed basis, as often or as little as they like. “Grief is unpredictable, even many years after a loved one passes, small things can trigger sadness, prompting the need for support,” said Angie Sink, a Presbyterian Hospice & Palliative Care bereavement coordinator.
For example, certain occasions, like an anniversary or taking a family vacation for the first time can usher in a difficult emotional period. “During one support group session, two men who lost their spouses were able to share their similar experiences after attending a wedding alone for the first time,” Sink said. “Sharing experiences validates and normalizes what people are experiencing.”
Having an outlet with others who have experienced similar events can be powerful when people start to feel as if they are burdening their family and friends. Some support group members have felt as if they are expected to hurry and ‘get over’ their grief. “The support group sessions are designed to be a safe place where a person’s loss and grief are honored,” added Sink.
Finding a network of support is paramount. “People really need to make space and time to pay attention to one’s grief journey so it doesn’t pop up in other areas of our lives,” advised Gardner.
The bereavement support group at Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville is offered by Presbyterian Hospice & Palliative Care, twice a month on the first and third Monday from 10-11:30 a.m. For more information on the group or to speak to a counselor, please call Presbyterian Hospice & Palliative Care at 704-384-6478.
