Hopeful Hearts: A path out of grief

The death of a loved one is an emotional kick in the gut.

No matter how well prepared we believe ourselves to be, dealing with grief and loss is a process, one that often takes much longer than we would like.

Emerald Coast Hospice has sponsored a bereavement support group to assist area residents through the process of grieving. Jennifer Gilbert, a clinical social worker with Gentiva Health Care, runs the Hopeful Hearts program.

The six-week program is designed to walk participants through the grief process in a small group setting. The program is more intensive than traditional support groups. Membership is usually capped at ten people, and members are given a curriculum to follow. Homework assignments help ensure that progress is being made.

“We had a request that we needed something that is a little bit more intensive but not individual therapy,” said Gilbert, “It’s just a lot more information in an intimate setting allowing them to grow throughout the process and understand what grief is.”

For more on this story, see the September 8 issue of the Navarre Press or subscribe online.