1. What is a Facilitated Children's Grief Support Group?
A grief support group is made up of approximately 10 children, trained adult facilitators, and a group coordinator. The group provides the children with a safe place in which to talk about and play out their thoughts and feelings about their losses. Children generally do more playing than talking because play is the natural language of children. Children use play instead of words to represent their changing world.
2. How can play be supportive and helpful?
Play is a form of expression. A child uses various play activities and materials as tools to express his/her many different emotions and thoughts.
3. Why does Facilitated Play work?
Just as a child enjoys having the same story read several times, so the child replays various grief themes. With the help of the adult facilitators the child learns to:
1. Acknowledge the reality of death.
2. Experience the emotions, thoughts and behaviors associated with the grief.
3. Adjust to living in a world in which the person who has died is absent.
4. Withdraw emotional energy from the person who died and reinvest it in other relationships.
5. Establish a relationship with the memory of the person who died.
5. What do the Group Facilitators and Coordinator do?
The facilitators are volunteers trained by The Grief Center to listen and respond to grieving children. The group coordinator is a master's level counselor who supervises the facilitators and children's activities to assure that everyone is safe.
6. Who benefits from coming to The Grief Center?
Facilitated support groups benefit grieving people of different ages. The Grief Center offers suport groups for grieving children ages 5-17 and adult support groups for the caregivers of the children.
7. What clothing should children wear to The Grief Center?
Often the child will want to use paint, clay, play dough, glitter or other messy materials. The following guidelines are suggested for the children's clothing.
1. Clothing should be worn that will not be ruined by play materials.
2. Clothing should not hinder play.
8. What does your child need from you during group?
Grieving children often have anxiety about seperation from their caregivers. Your child needs to be able to touch base with you when he/she wants to and thus is allowed to interrupt the adult group.
9. What does your child need after the group?
1. Parents are often concerned that their children are "just playing" in their group. Remember that at The Grief Center, play is your child's work.
2. Your child may or may not wish to share or not share what happened in group or what he/she did or made. Just as you may wish to leave your work at the office, your child may wish to leave his/her work at The Grief Center. It is suggested that you not ask the child about his/her experiences in group, but listen and show respect for what your child decides to share with you.
3. Your child may need quiet time or time alone. Just as work is tiring, grief work is tiring.
4. Your child may sometimes be temporarily more active. Be especially patient with your child after the group. Try to possibly plan some relaxing activity to help him/her unwind.
10. How long will the Support Group last?
There is no time limit on grief. Each child is different. Some children may want to come for a short time. Others may need to come for several years.
11. Why is saying goodbye at The Grief Center important?
Saying goodbye is especially difficult for children who have lost a loved one. We say goodbye at the end of each group and we encourage each family to participate in a closing ceremony when the child is ready to stop coming to The Grief Center.
12. Where is The Grief Center of Southwestern Louisiana located?
330 St. Landry Street
P.O.BOX 53535
Lafayette, LA 70505-3535
