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It has been a month since our last newsletter, and we are yet again at a holiday about remembering….the 4th of July is a day where we remember our independence and freedom in America. Journey to Hope is experiencing a summer of remembering, as we journey through some grief work and remember loved ones who are no longer with us. I am very thankful for that group of individuals who were courageous enough to fight for and tenaciously pursue the idea of independence and freedom for all.
Our country is not perfect, but I can say this with confidence. There is no place on earth I would rather live my life than here. We have been given so much here; it is a sacred trust. I find myself very thankful to be an American, and I am thankful for my freedom. God Bless America, and Happy 4th of July from Journey to Hope.
Blessings, Susie
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Counselor's Corner
Susie Walden,MA,LPC,NCC
THE COMMON LANGUAGE OF GRIEF
Our June grief group focused on women who have lost babies due to miscarriage, abortion or still birth. The experience for me was such a privilege, to be able to walk through the valley of sadness with you as you remember children who you will never know in this lifetime. The courage and transparency shown by group members was powerful for me. Everyone who participated in this group showed tremendous acceptance, love and honor to each other. There was no judgment to be found in this group. A few things emerged from the group; life lessons that everyone can benefit from. I offer a few suggestions below for any of you who are struggling through a season of grief.
First, there are four things that a person who is grieving must do in order to process through the journey of loss and they are:
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First is to find your own words for the loss. This can be done by making journaling, or creating poetry, art, music – whatever outlet fits you and speaks to your soul and allows you to express your loss.
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Second is to find a way to say the words aloud. This can be done by recording your words, speaking with a trusted friend, or allowing a therapist to help you in the journey of finding your voice and expressing your loss.
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Third is to know that your words have been heard. There is a wonderful gift given when someone hears your heart, your soul, and just allows you to say and express what needs to be said about the person you lost. It is a priceless gift to be heart.
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Fourth, find a way to remember the loss by incorporating it into your present. This can be done in a variety of ways. Claiming the person you lost in conversations is one way. For example, if you have miscarried, and you have other children, you might include the child you lost in the number of your children. Another way to incorporate is to name the loss. For example, if you had a name picked out for a child you lost, refer to them by name. Another idea is a memorialization of some sort…perhaps a picture representing the person lost, or a place where you go to remember that person. Some find a lot of comfort by planting a tree in honor of the life lost and going there to remember.
One of the other life lessons that this group learned and that I would like to pass on is that each loss we experience in this life can increase our sensitivity to others around us who have also experienced loss. Many times, when a person does not know what to say, they will either go silent, or they will try to minimize the loss of another with comments like ‘Just don’t think about it so much and it’ll get better, or ‘You need to get over this. It has been long enough.’ Sometimes words are not even necessary to give to a person who has lost someone…many times the gift of our presence is all that is needed.
The journey to grief is not an easy one. There is time spent hiding from the pain and perhaps from others, suffering in secret, struggling to figure out how to relate to others after a loss and struggling to forgive both yourself and others after loss….all painful roads for sure.
Your story is so very important to God and to us. Every single detail of your life is a very big deal to God. There is not a moment wasted, so my prayer for you is that you courageously walk into the face of your pain and loss and let God be your healer. Better days are coming. Hope is always there. Blessings, Susie
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A New Face
We wanted to let you know that over the next month, there will be a new face at Journey to Hope. Andrew Brady will be interning at Journey to Hope for the month of July and perhaps into August, working to satisfy his degree requirements. We will introduce you more thoroughly to Andrew in our next newsletter. Be sure to say hello to Andrew the next time you are in the office. It is our goal that Andrew’s internship will be a positive experience that will allow him to experience all aspects of a busy private practice counseling office!
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Scheduling and Journey to Hope Policy Updates
Just a few notes for everyone. Summer has arrived and that means many of you will have vacations and special events happening that might disrupt those of you with standing appointment times. Please let us know as soon as you know when vacation, travel or special events will keep you from your regularly scheduled appointment, so that we can plan accordingly. We have quite a waiting list, and would like to be able to offer your spot to someone waiting while you are away. Thank you so much for your help in this matter.
It is probably a good idea to review our cancellation policy once again. If you need to cancel your appointment, we ask for a 24 hour notice. If you call with less than a 24 hour notice to cancel your appointment, there is a $40 cancellation charge. If you do not call to cancel and you do not show for your appointment, the charge is $120.00. So please, help us to help you. Call us as soon as you know there is a conflict. Of course, if there is ever a reason we have to cancel your appointment, there is no charge to you whatsoever.
Policy Change for 1st time appointments: When calling to make a first time appointment, Journey to Hope does require a valid credit card number to hold the spot for you. Your credit card will not be charged unless you do not show up for your first appointment. If you do not show up for your first appointment, your credit card will be charged $120.00. Otherwise, when you come in for your first appointment, you will be charged your regular co-pay or your fee for service counseling charge.
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GRIEVING THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE
We will be holding a 4 week grief group called Grieving the Loss of a Loved One, and it will be for anyone who has lost a father, mother, child, or spouse. Details and dates to follow in the next newsletter. Stay tuned.
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“BE STILL†GROUP FOR BOYS
We will also be holding a 4 week group for boys ages 6-12. This group will be called BE STILL, for (Boys Experiencing Struggles in Living Life), and will focus on anxiety and will focus on how to reduce worries about life issues such as family struggles, test anxiety, threat of illness, or personal safety issues. This group is one that you don’t want your son to miss if he struggles with any of these issues. Details and dates to follow. Stay tuned. Call the office for more details.
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Journey to Hope is putting together a walking team for the Out of the Darkness Spotsylvania walk on October 19 2013 to be help raise awareness for suicide prevention. If you are interested in being a part of the Journey to Hope walking team, please talk with us at the office and we can help you sign up, or you can visit the website and search for the Journey to Hope Team and sign up there. http://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=2257
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