art of enjoying life

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Art of Enjoying Life Art of Enjoying Life Grief and Forgiveness Group Grief and Forgiveness Group A Psychoeducational Experience A Psychoeducational Experience Gloria Aurora Champion-Castro Gloria Aurora Champion-Castro

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Page 1: Art of enjoying life

Art of Enjoying LifeArt of Enjoying Life

Grief and Forgiveness Group Grief and Forgiveness Group

A Psychoeducational ExperienceA Psychoeducational Experience

Gloria Aurora Champion-CastroGloria Aurora Champion-Castro

Page 2: Art of enjoying life

Art of Enjoying Life Art of Enjoying Life

Psychoeducational Thanatology Group ModelPsychoeducational Thanatology Group Model

PurposePurpose

Offer a psychoeducational Offer a psychoeducational

experience with the aim of helping in the experience with the aim of helping in the

understanding and relieving of grief and pain understanding and relieving of grief and pain

related to a loss. related to a loss.

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Loss is a natural aspect of life Loss is a natural aspect of life

and grief is a natural and grief is a natural

response to loss.response to loss.

Grief is in essence related to the loss Grief is in essence related to the loss

of a loved one that died of a loved one that died

but it can also be related to other losses for but it can also be related to other losses for example: example:

divorce, illness, a dramatic change in life or divorce, illness, a dramatic change in life or the process of transition from one stage of the process of transition from one stage of

development to another.development to another.

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Sometimes it is difficult to recognize that we Sometimes it is difficult to recognize that we are passing through a grieving process.are passing through a grieving process.

Healing grief is the need to experience Healing grief is the need to experience forgiveness and have de ability to move forgiveness and have de ability to move

forward.forward.

Forgiveness may be a process that can become Forgiveness may be a process that can become difficult and painful.difficult and painful.

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Number of sessions recommended: Number of sessions recommended:

88

Sessions time: 60 minutes Sessions time: 60 minutes

Number of members: between five and tenNumber of members: between five and ten

This group can be developed in a school, This group can be developed in a school, institution, agency or other settingsinstitution, agency or other settings

This can be an open group allowing the This can be an open group allowing the integration of new members each session.integration of new members each session.

Page 6: Art of enjoying life

Eight Sessions Group ModelEight Sessions Group Model

What is and how to recognize grief?What is and how to recognize grief?

The phases of grief proposed by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross.The phases of grief proposed by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross.

Overcoming and moving beyond the grieving process.Overcoming and moving beyond the grieving process.

How to overcome denial and isolation.How to overcome denial and isolation.

Strategies to overcome frustration, sadness and anger related Strategies to overcome frustration, sadness and anger related to the loss.to the loss.

Learning to forgive.Learning to forgive.

Learning to live with the lossLearning to live with the loss

How can we help those we love who are sharing our loss?How can we help those we love who are sharing our loss?

Page 7: Art of enjoying life

RecommendationRecommendation

Before working with others about their loss it Before working with others about their loss it is necessary that the leader of the group is necessary that the leader of the group fully examines his/her own loss or losses fully examines his/her own loss or losses

The deeper we can review our own losses The deeper we can review our own losses

will allow us to be effective will allow us to be effective

when helping others.when helping others.

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Each session will follow the next steps:Each session will follow the next steps:

1.1. An introduction to the topic of the session by the group An introduction to the topic of the session by the group leader with an active participation from the group leader with an active participation from the group members.members.

2.2. Relaxation and guided meditation exercise.Relaxation and guided meditation exercise.

3.3. Round of voluntary participations.Round of voluntary participations.

4.4. Expressing feelings through art activities: painting and Expressing feelings through art activities: painting and dramatizations.dramatizations.

5.5. Summarizing and closing the session.Summarizing and closing the session.

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Session ISession I

1. Introduction to the topic: 1. Introduction to the topic:

What is and how to recognize grief?What is and how to recognize grief?

Death and loss are the most unwanted topics because Death and loss are the most unwanted topics because they produce a deep feeling of anxiety, fear they produce a deep feeling of anxiety, fear

and/or remembrance of emotional pain. and/or remembrance of emotional pain.

When working with adolescents we may consider a When working with adolescents we may consider a loss the transition from infancy to adolescence.loss the transition from infancy to adolescence.

Page 10: Art of enjoying life

The body left behind, cognitive processes as well as The body left behind, cognitive processes as well as behaviors and relationship patterns are changing behaviors and relationship patterns are changing

dramatically. dramatically.

This is one of the reasons that this model can be This is one of the reasons that this model can be beneficial for adolescents because they are going beneficial for adolescents because they are going

through a grieving process per se.through a grieving process per se.

Other reasons to participate in this group can be:Other reasons to participate in this group can be:

A death in the family or in the group of peersA death in the family or in the group of peers Parents going through a divorceParents going through a divorce Loss of appreciated ways of lifeLoss of appreciated ways of life Moving from one city to anotherMoving from one city to another Failing to be successful in school or family settingsFailing to be successful in school or family settings

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2. Relaxation and Guided Meditation2. Relaxation and Guided Meditation

Relaxation starts when the leader guides the group Relaxation starts when the leader guides the group member’s to close their eyes and make three deep member’s to close their eyes and make three deep

inhalations and exhalations. inhalations and exhalations.

The group leader will go over the different parts of The group leader will go over the different parts of the body with a soft voice, to help with the the body with a soft voice, to help with the

awareness of tension and relaxation. awareness of tension and relaxation.

After a few minutes of this induced relaxation the After a few minutes of this induced relaxation the group leader will star with the guided meditation.group leader will star with the guided meditation.

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3. Round of Voluntary Participations

For the round of voluntary participation the group leader will say:

Now that we are back from our guided meditation exercise

we will try to share what each one of us was feeling,

or what other thoughts or images came to our mind

with the guided meditation

Shared experiences will be analyzed from the perspective of how

they have enriched the person’s life

as well as to recognize what have been the learned things

that helped the person to be emotionally stronger

and acquire a greater ability to enjoy life.

Page 13: Art of enjoying life

4. Expressing Feelings Through Art Activities: Painting or Dramatization

The last 15 or 20 minutes will be dedicated to the painting or dramatization

part of the session.

For the painting activity water colors and paper are recommended.

All the members will seat down around a circular table with the water colors in

the middle.

There are no directions of what to do or how to do the art work.

While performing art, the leader will promote a conversation sharing

feelings:

Fears, anxieties, sadness, happiness and other feelings and their

relationship with death and abilities to enjoy life.

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5. 5. Summarizing, closing the session and connecting with the Summarizing, closing the session and connecting with the topic of the next sessiontopic of the next session

Five minutes before the hour the group leader will state thatFive minutes before the hour the group leader will state thatthe session is almost ending, and will close the session with athe session is almost ending, and will close the session with asummary of the issues that emerged that day. summary of the issues that emerged that day.

To close the session the group leader will share some personalTo close the session the group leader will share some personalexperiences and feelings that are relevant to the topic experiences and feelings that are relevant to the topic and can be helpful for the members to understand theirand can be helpful for the members to understand theirfeelings and thoughts.feelings and thoughts.

Page 15: Art of enjoying life

Session II

Topic: Phases of grief proposed by Kubler-Ross

who was one of the

first researchers on death and dying

Kubler-Ross says that there are

five basic stages in a grieving process:

denial and isolation; anger;

bargaining; depression;

and finally acceptance

The steps to follow during the session

will be the same for all the other sessions,

for this second session it is recommended to play a dramatization.

Page 16: Art of enjoying life

Dramatization

Before starting the dramatization there will be a planning phase

where actors and observers will be democratically selected.

A room with a small stage would be very helpful but if this in not possible,

the room will be arrange with whatever it is there.

Usually chairs and tables can help.

The group leader will be the director indicating the moments

to begin and when to end the role playing

according to a reasonable time for the play to take form.

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It is very important after the dramatization

to assure and clearly say that every member of the group

will talk and share their feelings and thoughts during the dramatization,

and the last sharing round will be to

“get back to the real person”

and make a last sharing round about the feelings,

experiences and thoughts that appeared during this session.

The group leader will close with a summary and

connecting this session with the next one.

Page 18: Art of enjoying life

Sessions

III Overcoming and moving beyond the grieving process.

IV How to overcome denial and isolation.

V Strategies to overcome frustration, sadness and anger related to the loss.

VI Learning to forgive.

VII Learning to live with the loss

VIII How can we help our love ones with whom we share our loss?

These sessions will be developed with the same structure for sessions I and II

It is recommended to offer the painting activity for sessions I, III, V and VII

and dramatizations for sessions II, IV, VI and VIII.

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During the eight session it is recommended to During the eight session it is recommended to make a verbal evaluation of the whole process:make a verbal evaluation of the whole process:

What did we learn?What did we learn?

How can we apply this new experience?How can we apply this new experience?

What learning I think will stay with me for What learning I think will stay with me for ever?ever?

What do I recommend to the rest of the group?What do I recommend to the rest of the group?

Page 20: Art of enjoying life

When we accept When we accept

our human mortal conditionour human mortal condition

we can to live every day we can to live every day

as if as if

this were the last day of our lifethis were the last day of our life

Enjoy LifeEnjoy Life

Thank YouThank You

Page 21: Art of enjoying life

ReferencesReferences Cappel, Mary Lou. (1997). Loss and the grieving process. Cappel, Mary Lou. (1997). Loss and the grieving process. Parks & RecreationParks & Recreation, ,

32(5), 82. 32(5), 82.

Chopra, D. (1994) Cuerpo sin Edad, Mente sin Tiempo. Javier Vergara Editor. Chopra, D. (1994) Cuerpo sin Edad, Mente sin Tiempo. Javier Vergara Editor. SA.SA.

Freud, S. (1920) The pleasure principle. Complete Works, Third Edition, Freud, S. (1920) The pleasure principle. Complete Works, Third Edition, Biblioteca NuevaBiblioteca Nueva

Kubler-Ross, E. (1998) The Wheel of Life: A Memoir of Living and Dying. Kubler-Ross, E. (1998) The Wheel of Life: A Memoir of Living and Dying. BSABSA Editions. Servaty-Seib, Editions. Servaty-Seib,

Heather. L. (2004) Connections between counseling theories and current Heather. L. (2004) Connections between counseling theories and current theories of grief and mourning. theories of grief and mourning. Journal of mental health counseling, 26 Journal of mental health counseling, 26 (2), (2),

125-145.125-145.

Rimpoche, Sogyal. (1994). The Tibetan book of Living and Dying. Urano Rimpoche, Sogyal. (1994). The Tibetan book of Living and Dying. Urano Editions. Editions.

Tommiel, Lawhon. (2004). Teachers and schools can aid grieving students. Tommiel, Lawhon. (2004). Teachers and schools can aid grieving students. Education, Education, 124 124 (3), 559-566. (3), 559-566.