Pathways for Grief & Loss

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1 Pathways for Grief & Loss Providing support for those experiencing the death of a loved one or coping with serious illness Pathways Hospice

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3 Pathways for Grief & Loss A path shows us the way when we feel lost. While we each choose our own path in life, and in grief, sometimes we need someone to guide us and walk by our side. Pathways for Grief & Loss helps anyone in our community regardless of hospice involvement who is grieving the death of a loved one or dealing with serious illness. This includes support for family members and caregivers. Our grief counselors help people gain strength and heal through connection, understanding and support. Our nationally recognized program offers Grief counseling for adults, teens, children and families Support groups for all ages Expressive therapy groups, including art therapy and writing Play therapy for children Memorial services Community education Library resources Consulting and debriefing for businesses, organizations and schools In-services for healthcare professionals We provide many ways for people to share, heal and grow in times of loss. Please know that you are not alone. We re here to help.

4 What is grief? Grief is a normal response to loss or change that can turn your world upside down. Support at the right time can truly make a difference. The loss of a loved one is a life-changing experience, affecting a person s emotions, thoughts, behaviors and physical wellbeing. When someone is diagnosed or dealing with a serious illness, they may face similar life changes. A complicated process, grief can encompass a multitude of thoughts and feelings. People may feel numb, sad, angry, anxious, afraid or overwhelmed and have physical symptoms ranging from exhaustion, crying and aches to insomnia and loss of appetite. Each person grieves uniquely, with different intensities and in his or her own time. And while grief is a normal response to loss, it may feel anything but normal when you are experiencing it. We are here to provide support during this time of stress and change. Pathways counselors Recognized as leaders in bereavement care, many of our experienced counselors also have specialized training and expertise, including art therapy, children s play therapy, and pregnancy or infant loss. They provide one-on-one and family counseling and facilitate support groups. They also offer educational programs and offsite consultation in schools, organizations and workplaces.

5 Registration & fees Please call us at for more information about our services, support groups, registration and fees. Our website includes a complete list and calendar of grief support programs, as well as resource materials about grief, loss and caregiving. To keep our services accessible to anyone in need, we offer sliding-scale fees for individuals and families, hourly rates for businesses, discounted rates for non-profit organizations, and services to schools at no cost.

6 Programs & services Individual counseling Art Therapy C T A C G I By appointment Pathways art therapists offer individual sessions for both children and adults in our art therapy studio. Gently guided by an experienced art therapist, people find ways to explore and express their grief experiences, unfolding meaning and insight through their art-making process. Play Therapy C C I By appointment Children naturally express experiences, thoughts and emotions through play, and it serves an important developmental function in problem solving and learning. Play therapy helps children cope with challenges and process difficult events, such as death, in a way that comes naturally to them and does not require verbal expression. Sand Tray Therapy C C I By appointment In this dynamic process, children use figurines, miniature objects, trays of sand and sometimes water to create worlds in the sand. These worlds can represent the unconscious or conscious life of a child. Primarily a non-verbal medium, sand tray therapy can go beyond the reach of language to tell a story of loss to a caring and attentive grief counselor. Private Counseling C T A I By appointment Pathways grief counselors provide specialized private, individual counseling for adults, adolescents and children who are grieving or living with a serious illness. Fees: Family members of Pathways Hospice patients receive counseling, without charge, as part of the patient s hospice benefit. For other community members, Pathways for Grief & Loss provides grief counseling on a sliding-scale based on ability to pay. Key: C T A Children Teens Adult C G I Creative Therapy Group Individual

7 Support groups Caring with H Art A C G Registration Open to anyone caring for someone with a serious illness, this art group provides a supportive environment for sharing ideas, gaining support and learning about self-care. Participants need not have experience with art, just a willingness to have fun and discover their creative potential. Bereaved Parents A G Registration This group supports parents who have lost a child of any age. The group provides an opportunity to connect with other bereaved parents in a safe, supportive environment. Guided by grief counselors, participants discuss grief, loss, relationship changes, and strategies for coping with the loss. Explorations Adult Retreat A C G Registration In this two-day retreat, adults grieving the death of a loved one have the opportunity to express grief and explore losses through writing, art, music and movement. No prior experience is necessary, just a curiosity and interest in engaging the creative self in exploring grief. Family Grief Connection C T A G Registration Designed for families who have experienced the death of a family member, this program offers support groups for children, teens and parents at the same time, so that everyone in the family may conveniently attend a specialized, agespecific support group. Kids Grief Connection gives children ages six to twelve help in understanding and expressing their feelings of loss. Teens Grief Connection is open to teens grieving the death of a family member or friend. The group focuses on the unique issues of teenage grief in a safe setting among other bereaved teens. Parents Grief Connection provides support and education to parents whose children are grieving a death loss.

8 Following Image A C G Registration This art therapy group helps participants tap into the creative process to find new and healthy ways to relate to their experience of loss. Art making offers an active way of responding to difficult experiences, helping people relax and feel a sense empowerment in the midst of sometimes overwhelming circumstances. Journey by Journaling A C G Registration This group provides support and structure for exploring loss by beginning, continuing, or deepening one s journaling. A journal can be a simple and personal record of the grief journey and a helpful companion during this transition. Kids, Horses, Healing C T G Registration A therapeutic riding retreat for bereaved children and teens, this program is a collaboration between Pathways and the Hearts & Horses Therapeutic Riding Center in Loveland. Participants explore grief through activities including the care of horses, horseback riding and group counseling facilitated by a Pathways grief counselor. Memorial Services T A G Drop-in Evening of Remembrance services are held each year in January and July. We invite anyone in our community to join in this special time for remembering loved ones. Newly Bereaved A G Registration For people whose loved one has died in the previous three months, this group helps answer questions such as What is happening to me? and What can I do to help myself? On Our Own A G Drop-in A monthly drop-in group, On Our Own offers mutual support and education on topics of concern to widowed men and women. Key: C T A Children Teens Adult C G I Creative Therapy Group Individual

9 Path with H Art A C G Registration This art-based group for people with chronic illness provides an opportunity for self-care through art making in a relaxing environment while connecting with others who share similar experiences. Participants need not have art experience, just a willingness to discover their creative potential. Surviving the Holidays A G Drop-in The holiday season after the death of a loved one can be a very difficult time. The familiar routines and traditions may seem empty and hollow. Surviving the Holidays provides strategies and ideas for navigating the holiday season. Survivors of Suicide A G By appointment For more information on this support group, please call the Suicide Resource Center at The Mourning After A G Registration Open to adults who have experienced the death of a loved one, The Mourning After provides grief education and support with guidance from professional grief counselors. Participants find community and support through shared experience. The Next Course A G Registration In this series of cooking classes for widowed persons, local chefs and caterers teach basic recipes and food preparation techniques. Participants then share a meal and socialize with others in the class. Writing Through Loss A C G Registration Many people find writing a valuable tool for self-care and expression after the loss of a loved one. Facilitated by a creative writing teacher and grief counselor, this group helps participants gain insights into their grief by exploring their thoughts, emotions and circumstances through writing.

10 Community education, consulting & debriefing Forgotten Mourners C T G Registration The Forgotten Mourners program is designed to help teachers, counselors and other school staff gain a better understanding of the processes of grief and loss as experienced by children and teens when a significant death loss has occurred. Grief in the Workplace A G Schedule This program provides education and support for businesses and organizations when an employee has died or a co-worker returns to work following a death in the family. Consultation & Education: The powerful emotions of grief can impair people s judgment and decision-making and increase risk of injury in the workplace. Pathways grief counselors consult with managers and supervisors to assist in developing grief response plans to support employees and mitigate risks. Debriefing & Support: Providing support and debriefing to employees following the death of co-worker or loved one can help them cope with the loss. Counselors from Pathways for Grief & Loss are available for group counseling in the workplace. Summer Grief Education Series A G Drop-in Pathways staff grief counselors present topics such as What is Grief?, Families Experiencing Grief, and The Importance of Self Care When Grieving. All sessions are open to those grieving the death of a loved one or anyone providing support to bereaved persons. Educational seminars A G Registration Pathways for Grief & Loss has developed special presentations to help parents, children, managers, educators and organizations better understand the experiences of grief and loss. Topics include Understanding Grief, Helping a Grieving Colleague, Helping Children with Grief, and When a Co-worker Dies or Is Terminally Ill. Key: C T A Children Teens Adult C G I Creative Therapy Group Individual

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12 305 Carpenter Rd., Fort Collins, CO Main Street, Suite 2, Windsor, CO