In my prior blog, I wrote about 10 Reasons a Grief Support Group May Be for You. Now I’d like to address how to participate in a grief support group that is online. Due to the past year, we (grief and bereavement counselors) have had to shift our modalities of how we provide grief counseling and support, and online or virtual options for these services have flourished. Traditionally, most if not all grief support groups have been done in-person, where people drive to a location and all gather together in one room with one or two group leaders. Now, however, online options for grief support groups are just as viable and just as effective as in-person groups. Here are the benefits of online grief support groups:
Connection
Attending a grief support group online may seem counterintuitive to a main tenet of this space – Connection. While it may be an unfamiliar space for you, the ability to connect with others can be done in an online setting. Being aware of your needs and expressing them in a safe and supportive space can help us support one another, and in turn, foster connection.
Participation
Feedback is encouraged in the group and we as the group leaders support open communication. It may even be easier to participate in an online setting, as you are able to see all of the group members right in front of you and observe how others are interacting in the group. We encourage participation to the point where you feel comfortable, while never challenging you too much beyond your comfort zone.
Access to Care
We use a HIPAA compliant platform that allows us to see and hear one another as if we were sitting in a room together. The online setting allows greater access to support with the ability to reach you and others from wherever you are geographically. This eliminates the time, energy and expense of travel and creates ease of access for those who you may struggle with medical, psychological, or social challenges that may make it difficult to travel.
Feeling Comfortable
The great thing about doing an online grief support group is that you can do it from the comfort of your own home! Do you love your bed? Join the group while lounging in comfort on your bedspread. Does a recliner in your living room sound better? Then go for it. Wherever you are most relaxed and comfortable, you can choose this as the setting for the group.
Support Animals
Do you have a supportive and loving animal companion(s) at home? Attending a group online allows you the opportunity to bring your two, four, eight or no-legged family with you to the group. If this pertains to you, we probably don’t have to tell you how supportive that may feel!
Mourning and grieving are necessary to eventually experience relief. Expressing, feeling, and sharing your emotions is necessary to heal. Telling your story to others, and hearing others’ experiences of how they are processing their grief, can be invaluable in getting you through the pain of your loss.
If you’re thinking about trying out our online grief support group, please call 303-884-9682 for more information. All feelings are validated and embraced in our online Grief Support Group.
How We Can Help
We are currently enrolling for a support group for those experiencing grief and loss.
For adults who are grieving the loss of a loved one who are ready to go from lonely and distraught to feeling at peace.
This group will be hosted by Shannon Heers and Dayshun Stevens.
If you are looking for general support, or if you would like to talk to someone more about how we can help you, follow these simple steps:
Contact us today for a free 20-minute phone consultation
Or, you can book directly online with the therapist of your choice
Begin your journey towards a calmer, more relaxed life
Other Therapy Services Available at Catalyss Counseling:
Here at Catalyss Counseling, we want to meet all of your counseling needs in the Denver area. Our supportive therapists provide depression counseling, therapy for caregiver stress, grief and loss therapy, stress management counseling and more. We also have specialists in trauma and PTSD, women's issues, pregnancy and postpartum depression or anxiety, pregnancy loss and miscarriage, and birth trauma. For therapists, we can also provide clinical supervision! We look forward to connecting with you to help support your journey today.
Author Biography:
I’m Dayshun Stevens, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with Colorado In Home Counseling. I have a great passion for supporting others in their pursuit of health and growth. I believe that healing starts from the inside and happens in a safe interpersonal context. I walk alongside people navigating grief and loss, anxiety, depression, chronic illness, trauma, mindfulness, relationships, life transitions, and mind-body alignment. My ideal client is looking for support through life transitions, relief from daily stressors, is working through a traumatic experience, or coping with chronic pain and/or illness.