What is the Grief Recovery Method Outreach Program and is it the same as a traditional grief support group?

What is it?

The Grief Recovery Method is the action program for moving beyond death, divorce and other losses. The Grief Recovery Outreach Program gives participants specific actions to take, so they can recover from loss. Each Outreach Program is guided by a trained Grief Recovery Specialist and runs in either a group, or one-on-one setting, for 7-12 weeks.

Who is it for?

It’s for anyone who has experienced a significant emotional loss and wants to feel better. Types of loss are not limited to death and divorce. Many people join The Outreach Program because of grief over moving, a change in financial status, loss of trust, or one of the other 40 types of losses a person could experience in his or her lifetime.

Who runs the Outreach Programs?

Grief Recovery Specialists who have been trained and certified through The Grief Recovery Institute. Our specialists have been through extensive training. What makes their training unique is they won’t ask you to do anything they haven’t done themselves. They come from a variety of backgrounds and career fields, but have one thing in common: their desire to help grievers.

How do Outreach Programs differ from traditional grief support groups?

• We welcome everyone. Most traditional support groups segregate participants by the type of loss they’ve experienced. In over 30 years we’ve seen no benefit in doing that. Even if two people experienced a similar type of loss they still wouldn’t have the exact same experiences because all relationships are unique. We have found that focusing on the type of loss puts the focus in the wrong place. Grief Recovery works on every type of loss.

• Attendance is required. Traditional grief support groups have no specific end date and participants are allowed to drop in as they please. We encourage participants to make a commitment to each other for the duration of the Outreach Program. Attendance and participation build trust and safety, which are essential elements to recovery from grief.

• It’s an action-based program. Although many traditional grief support groups offer a safe environment for a griever to talk about their feelings, talking only provides short-term relief. Talking about your feelings can be beneficial, but it’s not enough. The Grief Recovery Method Outreach Program is designed to guide grievers through a series of actions to complete the pain associated with their feelings.