Setting Up and Facilitating Bereavement Support Groups

Those who have been bereaved are in need of support, and group work is an effective way in which people can come together and support each other in a trusted environment. This book provides a practical introduction to setting up and facilitating bereavement support groups, giving facilitators the confidence to run a group. It guides the reader through all the stages of setting up a group, and examines different types of facilitation and the skills needed. Case studies illustrate different types of group, such as closed, time-limited groups and open groups, and the potential of online groups is discussed. Chapters also cover group dynamics, handling challenging situations, and overcoming problems that may arise. This accessible book will help to make groups successful for both participants and facilitators, and will be a valued source of information and guidance to anyone either running or considering running a bereavement support group.

Dodie Graves has over 20 yearsâ?? experience as a counsellor. She is currently a bereavement service co-ordinator for a hospice in the West Midlands, recruiting, training and supervising a team of voluntary bereavement visitors in active listening skills and bereavement issues, as well as facilitating support groups herself.