When you experience loss, it's very easy to feel alone. The world can seem empty, and it seems like no one can understand what you're going through. That's where Brooklyn grief support groups come in. While not for everyone, these support groups can be helpful for many. In this article, we'll examine what a grief support group is all about and share tips on how to find one in your area.
Brooklyn grief support group resources on this page:
In what ways can groups be beneficial to those experiencing grief?
Grief Support Groups: What to Expect
Different Types of Grief Support groups
Why would support groups for different kinds of loss be useful?
Resources for Finding Group Therapy or Support groups for Grief in Brooklyn, NY
In what ways can groups be beneficial to those experiencing grief?
Grief therapy for loss can be an excellent way to facilitate the grieving process for someone who has just lost someone important in their life. Individual therapy and group therapy are both available, and both can be effective. However, a group therapy setting offers the added benefit of the other group members. These people have been through a similar experience and are processing similar feelings of grief. Group therapy can offer camaraderie with others going through the grief process as you learn coping skills to manage your feelings.
Grief Support Groups: What to Expect
Grief support groups allow adults who've lost someone to gather in group sessions to talk about their loss, share their feelings, and move through the grieving process together. The group leader guides the process and may share strategies for managing strong emotions, while also stressing that there is no right or wrong way to grieve.
Some bereavement groups are run by a licensed therapist and will involve more therapeutic services. These are run under the name of "group therapy" or "grief therapy." Other grief support groups may be run by a trained volunteer who is experienced in grief and group support settings but is not actually a therapist. Either can be valuable for working through grief.
Different Types of Grief Support Groups
There are any number of groups available for grief therapy. There are groups for family members, friends, spouses, people managing a terminal illness, children who have survived school shootings, those who have lost a family member to substance abuse, people with family members or friends in hospice services, and many more. Here are some common support groups.
Cancer-Related Bereavement
These support groups are for the specific loss of those who have lost someone to cancer. There may be a general cancer group, but there can also be specific delineations, such as "breast cancer loss" or "colon cancer loss."
Complicated Grief Therapy
Support groups for complicated grief are often run as grief therapy by a licensed therapist. Also known as persistent complex bereavement disorder, complicated grief is when a person has difficulty moving through their grief even after a good amount of time has passed and their bereavement is debilitating.
Hospice-Based Bereavement Services
For those who have a loved one in hospice, the bereavement coordinator will often offer bereavement services, often in a group setting.
Online Bereavement Groups
Online groups offer grief therapy for those who may not have the time, energy, or desire to meet with a support group in person. This can also be an extremely helpful option for those who have lost a loved one or are living with a loved one with an extremely rare disorder. They can meet with people all around the world who understand their challenges.
Bereavement Services for Older People
For those who are older, it can be difficult to find a support group that understands their needs. They may be losing compassionate friends and dealing with a shrinking social circle that has already seen several relationships rupture through death. Meeting with other people in this situation may allow them to feel relief at not being alone.
Grief in the Workplace Crisis Debriefing
When a workplace loses someone in the office, a bereavement coordinator will often plan a session (or a few sessions) of grief therapy for the other employees. Support in a safe environment can help the employees move through their grief and shock, and get back to work.
Parents and Siblings Who Have Suffered the Death of a Child
One of the most difficult feelings of grief is for parents who have lost a child. Therapy and support groups for this level of loss can be essential for mental health outcomes.
Why would support groups for different kinds of loss be useful?
A grief support group offers a safe space and mental health support for bereaved individuals. They are often dealing with difficult feelings, so having other members who can truly understand what they are going through can be a huge support. That's why there are so many types of groups available. The issues relating to the treatment process, different relationships, ways to cope, and other factors can be different depending on the situation that the person is going through.
Resources for Finding Group Therapy or Support groups for Grief in Brooklyn, NY
To find a support group for grief in New York, first decide what kind of support group you are looking for. Do you prefer in-person or online support? Do you want a support group that is made up of other bereaved people for a specific disease or traumatic experience? And do you require a grief support group that offers grief therapy from a licensed professional, or are you just interested in meeting with other bereaved individuals in a setting that is run by a trained volunteer?
If you are already working with a therapist in person or online in private practice, they can likely offer you recommendations for grief groups, or they may run such a group themselves. If you are working from scratch, you can simply search online for "Grief support groups in New York" and add any parameters that are important to you (i.e. "parent", "child", "death", "cancer", etc.) Funeral homes, hospitals, and hospices also often have a list of resources that can be helpful.
You are never alone in grief, although it can feel like it. Find a safe place to share your feelings and work through your grieving process by finding a grief support group in Brooklyn, NY. Being with others can't take away your loss, but it can help you begin the healing process.
Williamsburg Therapy Group
