Grieving adults in the Athens area can find help in The Healing Grief Support Group hosted by St. Mary’s Hospice Services. The free program is for adults who have lost a loved one through death. Chaplin David Gladson says the professionally facilitated group will focus on a variety of topics, including: understanding grief, remembering, accepting and expressing feelings, stress and coping, and others.
“A lot of folks are asking questions like, how do I take care of myself, I feel so alone, how do I cope with all of these feelings, how do I stay connected with my loved one even though I’ve lost them, when will this pain end,” Gladson said. “And then there’s the number one question that grief counselors get; am I crazy, what’s wrong with me, is this normal?”
He says those attending find encouragement that things will get better.
"People walk away with a sense of hope. You know, I may be grieving for a long time, but the intensity of my pain and the frequency of the pain I’m feeling will not last forever.”
The program starts April 5, but applications are now being accepted.
Call 706-389-2273 or toll free 800-822-3381 to apply.
The workshops will be held each Thursday from April 5 to May 24 at Chapelwood United Methodist Church from 2 to 4 pm.
St. Mary’s is an underwriter with WUGA.
