Grief support team attends seminar

Five members of the Jamestown Area Grief Support Team attended a seminar April 8-9 in Sioux Falls, S.D., featuring the internationally known expert in the field of grief and loss, Dr. Alan Wolfelt, from Fort Collins, Colo.

Carol Arnold, Eileen Lisko, Brenda Peterson, Kathy Vandeberghe and Diane Witzig were among the 200 people who participated in the two-part workshop. The Thursday evening session, “The Wilderness of Grief: Finding Your Way” addressed the need to mourn the death of a loved one, exploring a multitude of emotions, recognizing the unique aspects of each individual’s grief and the value of a support system when grieving. The seven-hour session “The Art of Companioning the Bereaved” dealt with the essential tenets of “companioning” versus “treating” the bereaved; understanding the influences of a grief-avoidant culture; identifying symptoms that suggest that grief has been inhibited, suppressed or denied; and becoming a more skilled, informed and sensitive supporter of those who have experienced the death of a loved one.

The Jamestown Area Grief Support Team is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting those who are grieving. They host educational programs, grief support groups, a yearly service of remembrance, a children’s grief camp and a widow’s retreat.

To register for the group, or to receive the JAGST brochure, call Brenda at 952-6886 or Eileen at 251-1280.

Tags: in the area, grief support, community, seminar