Medical and Health Concerns including Eating Disorders
Grief and Loss, including Pregnancy Loss
Work and Career Issues
Stress Management
Parenting and Family Issues
Fertility, Pregnancy, Parenting Issues
Perinatal Mood Disorders including Postpartum Depression
Grief Recovery
Simply defined, grief is the normal and natural reaction to significant emotional loss of any kind. While we never compare losses, any list would include death and divorce as obvious painful losses. Our list also includes many others; retirement, moving, pet loss, financial and health issues, among them.
The range of emotions associated with grief are as varied as there are people and personalities. There is no list of feelings that would adequately describe one person’s emotions, much less an entire society.
Grief is individual and unique. As every relationship is unique, so are the feelings and thoughts each person will have about the relationship that has been altered by death, divorce, or for other reasons.
While grief is normal and natural, most of the information passed on within our society about dealing with grief is not normal, natural, or helpful. Grief is the emotional response to loss, but most of the information we have learned about dealing with loss is intellectual.
The majority of incorrect ideas about dealing with loss can be summed up in six myths which are so common that nearly everyone recognizes them. Most people have never questioned whether or not they are valid. The misinformation is best described in the following:
Six Myths:
Time Heals All Wounds
Grieve Alone
Be Strong
Don’t Feel Bad
Replace the Loss
Keep Busy
Just looking at the myth that “time heals” creates the idea that a person just has to wait and they will feel better. We have known people who had waited 10, 20, 30, and 40 years, and still didn’t feel better. And, we know that they would tell you that not only had time not healed them, but that it had compounded the pain. The other five myths carry equally unhelpful messages.
Recovery from loss is accomplished by discovering and completing all of the undelivered communications that accrue in relationships. We are all advised to “Let Go,” and “Move On,” after losses of all kinds. Most of us would do that if we knew how.
Completion of pain caused by loss is what allows us to Let Go and Move On. It is almost impossible to Move On without first taking a series of actions that lead to completion.
Before taking the actions to complete, it is important to look at and often dismiss some of the ideas for myths that we have tried to use with loss, but are not working.
The Grief Recovery® Outreach Program creates the safety and the correct action choices that help people Move Beyond the pain caused by loss. It is a twelve week program, which creates a safe environment in which to look at old beliefs about dealing with loss; to look at what other losses have affected your life; and to take new actions which lead to completion of the pain attached to a recent loss, or one that occurred long ago.
The Grief Recovery Handbook, The Action Program for Moving Beyond Death, Divorce, and Other Losses, (released by HarperCollins in 1998), and an accompanying format written by Institute founders, John W. James and Russell Friedman is used as the text for the Outreach Program.
The Grief Recovery® Outreach Program is not an occasional, drop-in group.
For the safety and success of all participants, commitment and attendance are essential. The fee for the program is $700. Most Insurances are accepted and payment plans are available.
The Grief Recovery® Outreach Program is led by Elizabeth Nicholson, LCSW, who has been trained and certified by The Grief Recovery Institute®. To ensure your success within this program, your facilitator has direct access to the founders of the Institute.
Shaw Living Community Education Our Calendar
You take care of everyone else – Let us take care of you Group Support Sessions
CONNECTIONS
Connections is an educational seminar offered by Shaw Living for mothers and their daughters, age 9-12. Seven mother/daughter pairs make up each group. The objective of the group is to help moms and daughters connect and prepare for adolescence. Groups meet once a week for five weeks and are offered four to six times per year. Shaw Living offers this group at a reduced cost as a service to the community - each mother/daughter pair pays $100 for the five week session.
What topics are covered in this group? Healthy Communication, Self-Esteem, Relationships with family/friends, Body Image/Media Influences, Healthy Eating/Exercise, Eating Disorders/Risky Behaviors, Menarche/Menstruation, Sexuality/Brief sex education, Healthy/appropriate touch, Self-expression, Changing Roles
Shaw Living Community Education Wellness Support for Women
ONE HOUR WORKSHOPS
Single Session $35 Three Sessions $50 Five Sessions $85
Shaw Living Workshops are designed to promote self-awareness and provide education and support for adult women in the community. The objective of the seminar is to help women learn how to take care of themselves emotionally in a safe and confidential environment and to realize that you are not alone! Seminars are interactive, thought provoking and are meant to be an introduction to current topics relevant to women’s health issues. Ladies, its time to put yourself first and take an hour to reflect on issues that you may be dealing with in your life.
STRESS REDUCTION
STRESS, who doesn’t have it? Learn practical ways to reduce stress in your life as well as discuss the benefits and health effects
Definition of Stress
Identifying our Stressors
Is Stress Bad or Good?
How to Reduce Stress in our lives
WOMEN AND ANGER
Learn how to manage your emotions and express your feelings in a positive way-how to let go of resentments
What is anger/resentments
How anger affects our lives physically, emotionally and in our personal relationships
What are we angry about
Expressions of Anger
Forgiveness
HOW TO FEEL GOOD AGAIN
Are you busy taking care of everybody else? Learn ways to feel good again and discuss ways to improve your self-esteem
Where did the good times go?
10 steps to feeling good again
Self esteem education
Goals setting for changes we want to make in our lives
POST–PARTUM DEPRESSION
Taught with a Shaw Midwife-this seminar is to educate mothers to be about the most common syndrome that is related to pregnancy. Receive support and a toolkit to handle symptoms
Baby Blues versus Post-Partum Stress Syndrome
Current Symptoms
Support from other group members-sharing experiences of new motherhood
Toolkit for coping with symptoms
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
This seminar is designed to discuss body image, body image distortions and educate how to empower ourselves with regard to appearance. A frank discussion about eating disorders and society’s affect on self-image.
Are we powerless over food
Society’s view of body image
What am I eating?
Body Image Distortions
What can I do?
TRANSITIONS
This seminar is for women who have questions about menopause and its affect on your life and relationships. Taught with a Shaw Midwife, expect to receive support and tools to deal with the unique issues in this life stage.
Menopause and Beyond-Education regarding symptoms
Support from other group members-sharing experiences about the “change”
