In this guest blog I am sharing the wisdom of Grief Recovery Specialist, Carole Henderson, from The Grief Recovery Institute. I hope you find this blog helpful.
For those of us who have participated in a Grief Recovery Method program and have seen the results first hand, there is no doubt that its action steps are effective.
Now, however, there is scientific research to support its effectiveness with grievers.
In the first known university study to examine different approaches available to those who are suffering from a loss, the Grief Recovery Method has been shown to make a true difference.
Dr Rachael D. Nolan and Dr Jeffery S. Hallam of Kent State University (Ohio, USA) conducted the research and published two scholarly articles in the American Journal of Health Education this past February.
According to their findings, “The GRM program is an evidence-informed, practice-based program that has been shown to effectively influence components of grief and grief recovery.”
The studies indicate that the eight-session directed approach used in Grief Recovery Method Support Groups is effective in dealing with the symptoms of grief no matter what the type of loss.
This is terrific news for the entire Grief Recovery community and for those who may have been wondering if the Method would truly work for them.
The Grief Recovery Method program was exclusively developed by grievers, for grievers and is based on over 40 years of experience. The program has been implemented across the globe in 22 unique countries and translated into more than 15 different languages.
The research conducted thus far has shown that the program effectively influences participants’ knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours of grief recovery. Its evidence-based practices are grounded in behavioural theory, group cohesiveness, meaning-making, and prolonged exposure therapy.
The scientific community has been increasingly aware of the effects of grief on the mental and physical well being of sufferers. For those experiencing an inability to concentrate, fatigue, depression, inexplicable illness – this is wonderful news. Unresolved grief, even from losses that occurred in childhood, can account for long-term, debilitating levels of stress in the body that can increase the risk of grave illness or disease. Taking action to relieve this long-term stresscan greatly improve participants’ quality of life.
The Grief Recovery Handbook is available for those who would like to read more about the program; Certified Grief Recovery Specialists who offer group programs as well as one-on-one sessions.
The actions taken in this program allow grievers to once again enjoy fond memories by taking away the pain. They also teach individuals how to heal from relationships that were not as loving or fulfilling as hoped. The tools and strategies acquired can be applied to all future losses as well, increasing the capacity for happiness, joy and well being.
Read the article abstracts from the American Journal of Health Education below. Full text articles are available to subscribers of the American Journal of Health Education only.
Construct Validity of the Theory of Grief Recovery (TOGR): A New Paradigm Toward Our Understanding of Grief and Loss
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19325037.2019.1571964
Measurement Development and Validation for Construct Validity of the Treatment: The Grief Recovery Method® Instrument (GRM-I)
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19325037.2019.1571962
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Tammy Adams loves to problem solve, inspire and motivate others who are ready and committed to change. Tammy has spent over 30 years in the field of education and as a Certified Life and Executive Coach Tammy teaches individuals to challenge and conquer their limiting beliefs and insecurities to create the life of their choosing. As a Grief Recovery Method Specialist Tammy understands that unresolved grief can limit an individual’s capacity for happiness and is gifted at supporting individuals through the pain and isolation cause by an emotional loss, of any kind, to a place of happiness they believed no longer existed. Tammy’s clients say, “Tammy helped me unpack the baggage and put a smile on my face in the process. It’s a rare quality for someone to fully listen without judgement but yet still steer you in the right direction.”