Fort Valley Grief Support Group

by Claire Hollady

 

In my nearly 67 years of life, I’ve come to understand that grief is woven into the human experience. It’s not something we can avoid. Death is the most obvious and relentless grief that we have to process. But death is only one — albeit inevitable and all too familiar — cause of grief. Others include relationship loss from divorce or estrangement; neurological illnesses such as Alzheimer’s Disease; loss of stability, such as job or home; the many issues surrounding aging, including the decline of a partner’s or one’s own health; collective or community loss, which we experience all too often here in our little community; or from any number of life events that reshape the way we move through the world.

Living in our beautiful little valley comes with its own set of challenges: distance to “civilization”: limited transportation options, gaps in insurance, busy schedules, financial costs, and sometimes even hesitation around traditional talk therapy. Family and friends can be an essential source of support, but there are times when it helps to be with people who aren’t closely connected to our situation — people who can simply listen and understand. That’s where the Fort Valley Grief Support Group comes in.

 

After many conversations with longtime Fort Valley resident Pam Kitner — who shares a desire to support grieving friends, family, and neighbors — we decided to move forward. We hope to create an environment where folks experiencing grief of any kind can speak (or simply listen) in a compassionate and supportive space and find comfort in community. We also created a private Facebook group for members where we can connect between meetings.

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This is a support space, not therapy, so it is important to understand that we are not mental health professionals. While this group offers connection and understanding, it is not a substitute for professional counseling or crisis support. Pam and I will help guide the meetings to keep them focused.

 

Our first meeting is on Thursday, May 7 from 7 p.m. - 8:15 p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church, 4260 Fort Valley Road, approximately three miles south of the store. Meetings will be the first Thursday of every month thereafter. Meetings are free to attend, non-denominational (although we are grateful for the support of Faith Lutheran Church), and we welcome anyone experiencing any type of grief. Questions? Contact Claire Hollady at clhollady@gmail.com or Pam Kitner at ftvlykit@gmail.com.