This semester the staff at the Wellness Center staff introduced a new grief support group designed to help students going through the loss of a loved one. After noticing an increase in students going through a grieving process, they felt it was time to create a space for healing.
“We noticed that many students had recently lost family or close friends this semester. We have always known that grief groups can be a good support for people, but until recently we did not believe that there were enough students interested in a group for one to be formed,” Kellie Buckner ‘01, a counselor on campus, said.
This newly formed group aims to comfort students and offers a safe space for them to connect with others in a similar situation. With the holidays coming up, feelings of sadness can often come up more than usual.
“We hope this group will provide a space for students to feel supported and cared for – especially with the upcoming holidays,” Tye Tindal, a co-leader of the group, said.
Currently the group meets every Monday at 4 p.m. and will switch to a biweekly schedule in the spring semester. Attendance is flexible; students can come whenever they are able in regards to their busy schedules and do not have to attend every session.
“Students can reach out to let us know they are planning to attend but are not required to attend every session. Come if you’re able,” Tiara Woney, another co-leader and counselor, said.
The group is open to all students, regardless of where they are in their grief journey. They are different each session.
“Each session has a framework to start discussion that can adapt to meet the needs of that day,” Perry Henson ‘96, another counselor, said.
On arrival, students are asked to fill out a confidentiality agreement to ensure that everything said in the group will stay in the group. Further, students only need to share what they are comfortable sharing.
“We hope that students navigating any type of loss will have an increased sense of belonging and support while they are attempting to process their grief experience,” Woney said.
The Wellness Center hopes that the new group will offer students a new sense of connection during a difficult time.
“We hope that students navigating any type of loss will have an increased sense of belonging and support while they are attempting to process their grief experience,” Tindal said.
Measuring the success of the group can be difficult, but the counselors believe that participation is a sign of growth and that students are meeting their needs. Students can learn about the group through flyers, daily announcements, emails and just through contacting the Wellness Center.
“Anyone can join the group by registering using the QR code provided on our flyer. They may also email Tye or Tiara. We also advertise the group on social media and in the daily announcements,” Buckner said.
For students who may be unsure about joining, the counselors and leaders encourage reaching out.
“We encourage everyone to come and experience the group. There is no pressure to share but people can benefit just from being present in the room. We just want people to feel supported,” Buckner said.
Students can also schedule one-on-one sessions with a counselor if they do not feel comfortable in a group through the Wellness Center portal.
“Students may choose to begin an ongoing counseling relationship by scheduling a first-time appointment. If they believe that they only want to speak to someone 1-2 times, they may choose to schedule a solution session instead,” Buckner said.
The goal of the grief support group is to remind students that they are never alone and will always have a support system on campus.
