Steps of Hope: Creating a Tribute Walk for Grievers. November 16, 2016

Transcription

1 1 Steps of Hope: Creating a Tribute Walk for Grievers November 16, 2016

2 Presenters are Clinical Grief Counselors for Gilchrist Hospice Care, Certified in Thanantology by ADEC, and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors. Hilary T. Harrington, MA, LCPC, CT has been with Gilchrist since She holds a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Towson University. She is a member of ADEC. She has presented on various topics on grief for local agencies. Laurel Goodrick, MS, LCPC, NCC, CT has been with Gilchrist since Laurel holds a Master of Science degree in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola University. She has presented at National Hospice Palliative Care Conference and local community organizations. She is a member of ACA. 2

3 3 Conflict of Interest The presenters do not have any relevant financial relationships with any commercial interests to disclose.

4 Continuing Education Approved Provider 4 Nurses: This session has been approved for 1.0 contact hours Hospice & Palliative Care Network of Maryland is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Maryland Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Social Workers: The Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners certifies that this program meets the criteria for 1.0 credit hours of Category I continuing education for social workers of Maryland

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6 6 Objectives 1) Identify how a tribute walk can be useful to grievers 2) Summarize why nature, walking meditation, and ritual were key elements 3) Know how to replicate this event in your community

7 7 Why Steps of Hope? Offer a different memorial event Provide a healing experience to support movement through grief beyond the walls of counseling office Introduce a supportive activity grievers could return to on their own Nurture a connection to the deceased (continuing bond)

8 Supporting Research 8 Berger and McLeod 2006: Use of nature in healing work is traced back to ancient times Nature therapy environment is a live and vibrant partner Each part of nature can resonant with a griever and help guide through change

9 Supporting Research 9 Wagner 2015: Alignment with nature offers a reflective therapy toward healing Seasonal transformation and life impermanence facilitates healing

10 Reeves 2011: Supporting Research 10 Important elements: careful preparation, meaningful symbols (to grievers), griever participation, inclusion of others to witness, use of symbols or activities represent past and present, offer future wishes or expectations Combination creates safe container for grief, encourages allowing transformation to healthier loss-related feelings, attitudes, behaviors

11 11 Preparing for the Event Identified work group - grief counselor(s) and volunteers financial support community park key elements: nature, contemplative walk, rituals and symbols

12 Arrival of Participants 12 What was important to us Invoking presence of deceased Inviting into a community with others Honoring & remembering

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15 15 Opening Gathering Setting tone honor & remember Coming together for common purpose Establishing safe & supportive community

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17 Opening Gathering 17 Music Broken Heart and Fields of Gold Reading Stopping and Finding Calm Logistics

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19 19 Guided groups The Walk Doable for most less than 1 mile Invitation to walk mindfully paying attention to their 5 senses and what is around them

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22 The Walk 22

23 23 The Walk Memory flags along trail nurtured continuing bond, searching and finding deceased Looking at what's around them finding their own metaphors

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26 26 Groups were more engaged with each other Talking/sharing stories Taking pictures

27 27 Closing Gathering Music To Where You Are Reading of names Butterfly Release

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33 33 Grief Mirrored in Steps of Hope Grief: uncertain, serious, unsure, curious Loss: Can I do this?, challenging Pain: weather, trail terrain Support: finding it among strangers, finding commonality, not alone, bring family together again Healing: hopeful, celebratory, transformation Nature: symbolic

34 Event Outcomes 34 Bridge moving forward in my life I did it Mom, V (victory sign), choosing to stop being sad Uphill through mud and rain like our journey through grief challenging, slippery but you made it through Sisters realized loss wasn t only being sad and doing hard things turning point Oma You hope in your heart that she is really here with you

35 35 Healing Experience Movement from sadness to joy Walk mirrored grief experience Nurtured continuing bond with loved one Integrated loss Influenced decisions to thrive

36 36 Continuing Bond Arrival spoke name of deceased and memory badge Remembrance object provided Walk invoking loved one memory Gatherings ritual Memory Flags searching and finding loved one along the way

37 37 Cycle of life Change around us Renewal Nature

38 38 Ritual Things we can t say Give voice to our thoughts and feelings Action to help symbolize

39 QUESTIONS? 39

40 40 How to reach us Gilchrist Hospice Care Grief Services Hilary Harrington, LCPC, CT Laurel Goodrick, LCPC, NCC, CT

41 References 41 Anh-Huong, N. & Nhat Hanh, T. (2006). Walking Meditation, Boulder, CO: Sounds True, Inc. Berger, R. & McLeod, J. (2006). Incorporating Nature into Therapy: A Framework for Practice. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 35(2), Brieske MD, Time (2016). Healing Through Nature. Childs-Gowell, E. (1992). Good Grief Rituals. Barrytown, NY: Station Hill Press. Nhat Hanh, T. (2015). How to Walk. Berkley, CA: Parallax Press. Reeves, N.C. (2011). Death Acceptance Through Ritual. Death Studies, 35, Stang, H. (2014). Mindfulness and Grief. New York: CICO Books. Wagner, A.L. (2015) Healing Conversations with a Tree During a Journey with Grief: Framed by Watson s Theory of Human Caring. New England Holistic Nursing Conference, Kennebunkport, ME, 9/17/2015