Testimonials For Support Groups
The program let me look at my feelings from different perspective.
Support Groups04/26/2023Participant in Los Angeles, CA
It has helped me to move on in my life and knowledge of what to do if any other tragedy comes into my life. That we can't hide our feelings. We need to address them and get them out in the open or it will just grow and fester inside until it eventually comes out when you least expect it.
Support Groups04/26/2023Participant in Clinton Township, Mi.
I just finished my completion letter last week. I am processing everything. I think time will tell how this method has actually worked for me. I am hoping that I will feel some relief and movement forward. Thank you.
Support Groups04/26/2023Participant in Wyndmoor, PA
When Donna Kendrick first mentioned at a networking group meeting that she did grief work, my ears perked. My life has been permeated with grief for a few years, and I had been trying to process on my own but struggling. As a lifelong learner, I always seek more. I signed up and dove into the process. I did not deeply trust Donna before starting this process. On the contrary, I worried a little that she would hear about memories I don't like to think about, memories that have carried shame for me, and judge me in our professional circle. But I really wanted to grow, so I trusted her and the process and said, "Fuck it." :-) I'm not worried about that anymore. Now, Donna knows many of my deepest pains. In sharing them, I have relieved some of this shame. As a teacher, I say to parents often that we provide a container of safety for our kiddos and especially teens, a "swimming pool" in which they can exist comfortably and occasionally "kick off the edge" (test their boundaries). What I loved about the space that Donna created is that no matter what we as participants brought, she affirmed it. We couldn't do our grief processing "wrong." :-) She counseled and helped as we needed, but she never corrected - so important! When we did our grief timelines, one member talked longer. The next week, she worried that maybe she had overshared or gone way too deep. To the contrary, her vulnerable reflections allowed me to think more deeply about my own processing and helped me in my next step, and I shared this with her. These were the kinds of affirmations we group members gave one another, and they were how we bonded as we progressed in our work together. Every week, we reflected about how our complete trust and radical honesty allowed each of us to share what we needed to in order to process and heal. Donna created that safe space for us, to her great credit as a human being of extraordinary depth and compassion. I am very grateful to her for this work. Finally, I will comment that I came to this work not knowing what to expect. Once my goals became clear, I processed the toxic romantic relationship I needed to release. That alone would have been worth this process, but I am walking away with more. For example, currently, I am providing support to my father as my abusive mother declines from Alzheimer's in assisted living. I am slammed with grief at every visit as I lose my mother a piece at a time, and as I reconcile all she has been in my life. With the GRM tools, I feel equipped to leave each visit (and the natural surge of flashbacks) with the processing questions, "What do/did I wish about these memories and interactions were better, different, or more?" As I wrestle with the grief of a childhood filled with domestic violence (from her), emotional violence, and gaslighting, while forgiving my mother as I give her loving care in her twilight days, these tools have been invaluable so that I don't leave things unsaid with my parents. I don't need to tell my mother to her face that I forgive her for being a narcissistic abuser, but doing the work *presently counts*. Knowing that when my mother dies, I won't have this unbearable mountain of unresolved grief issues to climb *matters*. I'll a big ol' death mountain of loss, and that's okay. Donna, my group, and the GRM gave me that, and I'll keep processing. One final note. I have dealt with chronic, recurrent depression my entire life, largely because I was gaslighted as a child. The strategies that the GRM teaches ground participants in their true emotions. That's powerful fucking stuff, which is why I embraced it from the start. Thanks to Donna and thanks to you for a process that has helped me to heal from a horrible relationship in which I was trapped during the pandemic. Tonight, after I read my letter and our session was over, I tore that letter into strips, and I look forward to no more haunted conversations in the car. My therapist told me today that I looked radiant, and I'll take that after 3 years of hell. That's all the hard fucking work I've done to grow since escaping that abusive man in late 2021, and Donna Kendrick's amazingly generous guidance through the Grief Recovery Method has helped me close that chapter. I can't wait to grow into the next! Thank you.
Support Groups04/26/2023Participant in Virtually on Zoom, PA
Support Groups04/25/2023Participant in Greensboro, North Carolina
I feel emotionally equipped to moved beyond old feelings and continue to address other losses. As soon as I read my letter yesterday, I felt so much lighter and capable of setting healthy boundaries.
Support Groups04/25/2023Participant in Greensboro, NC
It made me realize that I am ok and that I need to more forward on my goal
Support Groups04/24/2023Participant in Pawtucket, RI
Going through the GRM process has helped me to look at a relationship that greatly impacted me as a child. I was able to see the person more as a human being which to my inner child was a monster. When I wrote my recovery letter, I felt like the ache in my belly soften, and I felt empowered to honor myself, now as an adult.
Support Groups04/24/2023Participant in Providence, RI
Sense of release from within.
Support Groups04/24/2023Participant in Akron, Oh
I was unsure how recovery was actually going to feel when it was all said and done. Going through the steps helped me identify areas I needed to focus on, and then equipped me with the tools to identify unsaid hurt, properly cope, and say goodbye to the pain. I am happy to say that it has helped me regain the fond memories of my loved one and enabled me to speak of her without breaking down. My heart feels lighter.
Support Groups04/24/2023Participant in Spokane, WA
Many people are concerned about trying to deal with their grief. But the process that Charmissa uses helps you work through your grief allowing you to address the pain which is very important. The GRM is worth every tear, and every ounce of effort. As Charmissa would say “it’s some hard heart work”. Without realization I have recommended Charmissa to so many people. Her personality, tone and demeanor is amazing. She is very charismatic, personable and comforting. I would highly recommend her to each and every person who not only needs assistance with grief recovery but to anyone who could use some guidance.
Support Groups04/20/2023Participant in Stephens City, VA
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Support Groups04/20/2023Participant in Austintown, Ohio
I have been able to review my past relationships which had pain with a much deeper perspective. The program taught me the benefits of honesty and truthfulness in approaching any relationship especially where loss is involved. Knowing the recovery elements has been an eye opener on my way to recovery and healing from past and present losses. Tremendous method.
Support Groups04/20/2023Participant in London, England
When I first came to the grief recovery session, I was dealing with the bereavement of a parent. The process made me realise different losses in my life that I had locked up. The process helped me to talk about them and provided me with the skills to deal with them.
Support Groups04/19/2023Participant in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
Support Groups04/19/2023Participant in San Jose, CA
The program allowed me to deal with cumulative losses which affected my life over many years
Support Groups04/19/2023Participant in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
Outstanding. The course taught me so many more aspects of being there for people in my world as well as affirming some of the ways I already support people in my realm. I am extremely grateful for having participated with Rev. Toni.
Support Groups04/19/2023Participant in Redondo Beach, 90278
I like how it challenged me to look deeper. The fact that I have the book and the homework also means that I can look back over it in future when dealing with other situations that deal with grief.
Support Groups04/18/2023Participant in NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, Tyne and Wear
Support Groups04/18/2023Participant in Bowling Green, OH
Support Groups04/18/2023Participant in Bowling Green, Ohio
The program taught me how to create a relationship graph and write a letter. I think both of these were great tools to think back on the loss so I was able to process the loss. The program did bring up other feelings/thoughts I had about other losses which caused anxiety and PTSD for things that I really didn't feel were appropriate for me to work on in the group. I feel like some of these were things I would need to address with my therapist such as childhood abuse.
Support Groups04/18/2023Participant in Bowling Green, Ohio
I learned coping skills and how to better recognize unhealthy releases. I also learned how to confront my issues head on.
Support Groups04/18/2023Participant in Bowling Green, OH
Having the time and space to work through the trauma and grief. Knowing I was in a safe, non-judgments and confidential environment helped me get to the trauma, and deal with the stuck feelings that prevented me from moving on. I felt listened to and understood
Support Groups04/17/2023Participant in Tamworth, Staffordshite
The program has let me release a deep hurt. I had a very controlling and demanding mother and had convinced myself that she did not love me. Doing a relationship graph for my relationship with her really helped me to love her and also acknowledge and let go of the hurt I was carrying. This was all the more important because my wonderful husband, who did love me, dropped dead suddenly of a brain stem aneurysm in 2011 and I was feeling like I was all alone in the universe and so angry at my mother and it was just paralyzing. Now that I have worked through the program with Richard and Dana, I am at peace. I am doing great at work, I suddenly have a full social life, and I am in a healthy relationship. None of this would have been possible for me in the state I was in prior to doing the Grief Recovery program. I also appreciated learning how to listen to others compassionately.
Support Groups04/16/2023Participant in Newport Beach, California